Recorded presentation

Helen Wu, PhD¹, Charles Holzer, PhD², and Abbey Berenson, MD¹. (1) Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0587, 409-772-1021, zhwu@utmb.edu, (2) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 5.202 Rebecca Sealy, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555

We examined types of drug use in relationship to stress and problem behaviors among women between 18 and 31 years of age, who sought care at state-funded community-based family planning clinics in southeast Texas between June 2002 and May 2003. Patterns of drug use were classified into four exclusive groups: 1) ever used ecstasy, 2) only used marijuana, 3) used other drugs than ecstasy or marijuana, and 4) never used drugs. Among 358 women with complete survey information, 13.4% reported ever using ecstasy, 22.9% used marijuana only, and 9.5% reported using other illicit drugs. Characteristics of each drug type were then compared to no drug use in multivariate logistic regression models with reported odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. After controlling for covariates, levels of perceived stress were similar among groups. Women using ecstasy or only marijuana reported having more sexual partners (OR=1.11, 95%CI=1.05, 1.17) and more problem behaviors (OR=1.02, 95%CI=1.00, 1.04) than the no drug group. Use of ecstasy or other illicit drugs was related to having more problem behaviors (OR=1.03, 95%CI=1.01, 1.04). In conclusion, ecstasy use in this population was more common than reported in the general population. These data indicate that although ecstasy use may not be associated with stress, it appears to be associated with long lasting and hard-to-change, multiple problem behaviors related to sex or delinquency among young, low income women.

Learning Objectives:

• To learn ecstasy use among young, low income women

Keywords: Substance Abuse, Risky Behaviors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation