HIV Risk and Substance Use Behaviors among African American Youth.

HIV Risk and Substance Use Behaviors Among African American Youth The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between HIV sexual risk and substance use behaviors among a sample of inner-city African American youth. As part of a larger study, youth (n=193) completed questionnaires that measured sexual risk (last 3 months) as well as substance use (past month). Participants were separated in to high risk (> 1 unprotected sexual act) and low risk (0 unprotected sexual acts) groups. A greater proportion of high risk participants as compared to low risk youth used alcohol (44% vs. 26%; X2 =3.82, p=.06) and marijuana (54% vs.32%; x2 = 13.73, p < .05) in the last month. Further, a significant correlation between sexual risk scores and alcohol consumption in the last month was observed, with greater sexual risk being associated with greater alcohol consumption (r=0.22, p=0.01) and marijuana use (r = 0.26, p = .01). High risk youth also report lower self-efficacy for refusing drugs or refusing sex after drinking. Results indicate that African American youth who engage in high risk sexual behaviors are more likely to use alcohol and marijuana than those who do not. Prevention programs should be designed to address the interaction of these risk behaviors.