Sexual Activity, Substance Use, and HIV/STD Knowledge Among Detained Male Adolescents With Multiple Versus First Admissions

Abstract

Youth with multiple versus first admissions are at higher risk of HIV/STD infections through their lifetime and recent sexual activities. Interventions targeted to this population will need to address the barriers to and facilitators of condom use, strategies to promote positive attitudes toward condoms, and strategies to reduce the high level of alcohol and substance use.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Motivational Enhancement of Substance Use Treatment Among Incarcerated Adolescents

“…Motivational enhancement in the current study was not directly focused on altering sexual risk behaviors, per se, so our effect for overall sexual risk was surprising. Heightened levels of sexual risk behavior occur in combination with substance use and intoxication among adolescent detainees (Devieux et al, 2002;Gary et al, 2000;Harwell et al, 1999;Kingree et al, 2002). Future efforts to directly address reducing participation in high-risk sexual behaviors among incarcerated adolescents are definitely warranted.…”

“…Out of approximately 2.4 million juvenile arrests each year, more than 203,000 are for offenses related to substance use (Snyder, 2002). As is true for many sexually active populations, heightened levels of sexual risk behavior occur in combination with substance use and intoxication among adolescent detainees (Devieux et al, 2002;Gary et al, 2000;Harwell, Trino, Rudy, Yorkman, & Gollub, 1999;Kingree, Braithwaite, & Woodring, 2002). One study (Castrucci & Martin, 2002) found a strong association between regular substance use and sexual risk (including multiple sex partners, inconsistent condom use, and trading sex for money or drugs) among their sample of incarcerated adolescents.…”

“…A 1999 study reported that fewer than 60% of the facilities that house detained adolescents in the United States provide any form of HIV prevention education (Harwell et al, 1999). More than 75% of juvenile detention facilities provide substance use education and awareness training, more than 60% assess need for substance use treatment, and just over 40% make 12-step and other self-help programs available to residents during periods of incarceration (SAMHSA, 1997).…”

The health status of youth in juvenile detention facilities

“…This survey also found that females who reported sexual abuse had their first sexual encounter at an earlier mean age than those who reported no sexual abuse, and abused respondents were significantly more likely to not use any form of contraception than detainees without a history of sexual abuse. A 1997 survey of 486 male youth at a Philadelphia juvenile facility reported substantially higher than background rates of ever having sexual intercourse, having intercourse within the last six months, an age at first sex of Յ 13 years, and having at least eight sexual partners in their lifetime [40].…”

Associations between juvenile delinquency and weight‐related variables: Analyses from a national sample of high school students

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Other studies have revealed high levels of risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases among juvenile detainees. 7,8 Interventions and treatments to reduce mental health problems and at-risk behaviors of juvenile delinquents are also available and have been fairly well-described. [9][10][11][12] Studies have examined a wide range of health behaviors and problems among juvenile delinquents, but few have examined weight-related issues in this vulnerable population.…”