Black girls using marijuana prone to riskier sex, higher STD rate
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am | By: Radical Russ
Black girls using marijuana prone to riskier sex, higher STD rate – news.smashits.com
Washington, Aug 6 (ANI): Black girls who use marijuana are more likely to get involved in risky sexual acts and contract sexually transmitted diseases, reveals a new study.Conducted by Emory University public health researchers, the study analysed the marijuana use and self-reported sexual behaviour of 439 sexually active black females in the age group of 15-21 years.
It was discovered that black girls who used marijuana had significantly higher rates of incident STDs than non-marijuana users (32 percent compared to 23 percent).
In fact, the researchers found that those who used marijuana, also had more sex partners, riskier sex partners, including a partner just released from jail, and more recent episodes of engaging in vaginal sex while their partner was under the influence.
Although no differences in condom use were identified between marijuana users and non-users, results suggest that marijuana users are engaging in sexual acts with riskier partners and under riskier circumstances, and had higher rates of STDs.
The researchers advised STD and HIV intervention programs designed for adolescent black females that not only promote condom use, but also emphasize the risks of drug use and STD and HIV infection.
The study was presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.
Well, once again, we see a report where the lede is based on the idea that using marijuana will cause something bad to happen. What we may be seeing here is correlation showing that people who like to do risky things may also accept the risk of using a substance that can get you locked up in prison. For example, the part about “partner just released from jail” could very well be a boyfriend released on marijuana charges. “[P]artner was under the influence” could very well be a boyfriend who smoked a joint.
Overall, you can’t separate the marijuana use from its prohibition, and its prohibition is more likely the reason behind the different rates in this study. Using marijuana requires interaction with a criminal underground which by definition is a risky behavior.
Once cannabis is re-legalized, run this study again. Then we’ll have something to talk about. In the meantime, find me some STD figures on black girls and alcohol consumption and use that to argue for a return to alcohol prohibition.
