This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Risky sexual behaviors more likely in teens using prescription medications

High school students who used prescription medications for nonmedical purposes were more likely to engage in sexual behaviors that put them at increased risk for STIs, according to recently published data in Pediatrics.

“This study found that nearly one in five U.S. high school students engaged in [nonmedical use of prescription drugs] in his or her lifetime, and this behavior was positively associated with [sexual risk behaviors] that increase the risk for pregnancy and contribute to the burden of HIV and STIs …” the researchers wrote.

Researchers used data from the 2011 and 2013 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys to assess the correlation between nonmedical prescription drug use and sexual risk behaviors among high school students (n = 29,008). Sexual risk behaviors included ever having sexual intercourse, current sexual activity, lifetime number of sexual partners, condom use and alcohol or drug use before last sexual intercourse.

Results demonstrated that 19.3% of students reported nonmedical prescription drug use. Black students and those in 9th grade were less likely to use nonmedical prescription drugs compared with white students and those in grades 10 through 12.

Lifetime use of marijuana, alcohol, cocaine or ecstasy was strongly associated with nonmedical prescription drug use, according to the researchers.

Students who used nonmedical prescription medications were more likely to have ever engaged in sexual intercourse (76.6%), be currently sexually active (61.2%) or have four or more sexual partners in their lifetime (35.8%), compared with students not using prescription medications (39.9%, 27.2% and 10.1%, respectively). Additionally, not using a condom and having used illicit drugs or drinking alcohol prior to sexual intercourse was more likely among students used nonmedical prescription drugs, according to the researchers.

The researchers found that the association between risky sexual behaviors and nonmedical prescription drug use strengthened as the frequency of nonmedical prescription use increased.

“To better understand the association between [nonmedical use of prescription drugs] and [sexual risk behaviors], future research should explore the associations … by drug class, and investigate the temporality of the association through longitudinal research,” the researchers concluded. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.