CRACK COCAINE USE AND HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG SEXUALLY ACTIVE BLACK-ADOLESCENTS

The recent spread of crack cocaine use among inner-city teenagers has been accompanied by dramatic increases in juvenile delinquency and sex ually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teenagers. This study examined the prevalence of five factors which promote STDs, including human im munodeficiency virus (HIV), among a sample of sexually active black ad olescent crack users and non-users from the San Francisco Bay Area. Si gnificant differences were observed between these groups with respect to history of engaging in sexual intercourse under the influence of dr ugs or alcohol, exchanging sexual favors for drugs or money, condom us e in the most recent sexual encounter, and having five or more sexual partners in the last year. Approximately 63% of all respondents report ed engaging in at least one of these risk behaviors. In multiple logis tic regression analysis, reporting one or more of these STD/HIV risk b ehaviors was significantly associated with crack use and having one or more relatives who used drugs. Intervention efforts need to address b oth individual and environmental risk factors in order to reduce teens ' risk for STDs, including HIV.