Crack, cocaine linked to HIV in teens

PROVIDENCE – Teens with a history of crack or cocaine use are at increased risk of HIV infection due to unprotected sex, according to a new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center published in the April issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse.
The study, which looked at 280 teens in psychiatric day programs, found those who used crack and/or cocaine at least once were six times more likely to use condoms inconsistently, which was defined as “sometimes,” “never” or “rarely.”
The teens in the study had a variety of psychiatric problems, ranging from mood disorders to post-traumatic stress disorder and disruptive behaviors. More than half were male, and three-quarters were white. About 13 percent reported trying crack or cocaine at least once.
After controlling for other known HIV risk factors, researchers found that 47 percent of teens with a history of crack and/or cocaine use said they used condoms “always or almost always,” and 15 percent had a history of sexually transmitted diseases. By comparison, 71 percent of teens who never used crack or cocaine reported using condoms consistently.
The researchers found that crack is far more closely associated with risky behaviors than alcohol or marijuana use, which are more often incorporated into teen HIV prevention efforts. Previous research has made similar connections in adults.
“If we can develop a clearer picture of why some kids engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, we will be better prepared to educate them about safe sex,” said lead author Marina Tolou-Shams. “Our findings suggest that future HIV prevention interventions should include content specific to crack and cocaine use, just as they do with drugs that are more commonly used by teens, like alcohol and marijuana.”
The research was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research. Tolou-Shams is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
The study is available online.