Screening adolescents for substance use-related high-risk sexual behaviors

This analysis was undertaken to determine whether adolescents who screened positive for high-risk substance use with the CRAFFT questions were also more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors than their peers, and to determine the test-retest reliability of a substance use-related sexual risk behaviors inventory.

Clinic patients 12-18 years old completed a multi-part questionnaire that included eight demographic items, the CRAFFT substance use screen, and a 14-item scale assessing sexual behaviors associated with substance use. Participants were invited to return 1 week later to complete an identical assessment battery.

Of the 305 study participants, 49 (16.1%) had a positive CRAFFT screen result (score of 2 or greater, indicating high risk for substance abuse/dependence) and 101 (33.9%) reported sexual contact during the past 90 days. After controlling for gender, age, race/ethnicity, and number of parents in household, adolescents with a positive CRAFFT screen had significantly greater odds of having sexual contact after using alcohol or other drugs, of having a sexual partner who used alcohol or other drugs, of having sex without a condom, and of having multiple sexual partners within the past year, compared to their CRAFFT negative peers. The substance use-related sexual risk behaviors inventory has acceptable test-retest reliability, and the 10 frequency questions have scale-like properties with acceptable internal consistency (standardized Cronbach's alpha=.79).

Clinicians should pay special attention to counseling CRAFFT-positive adolescents regarding use of condoms and the risks associated with sexual activity with multiple partners, while intoxicated, or with an intoxicated partner.