Relationship between age of sexual intiation and substance use among U.S. high school students

Background/Purpose: Existing research indicates adolescent health risk behaviors are correlated and often occur together. This study investigated the relationship between age of sexual initiation and substance use among high school students in the United States who have ever had sex. Methods: Data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was utilized. A total of 16,410 students participated in the 2009 YRBS. A complex sample logistic regression in SPSS was used to examine if students who initiated sex before age 13 years were more likely to also report substance use (alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy) compared to students who initiated sex after age 13 years. Results: 5.9% (CI: 5.1-6.8) of high school students report initiating sex prior to age 13. When controlling for select demographic variables, students who initiated sex before age 13 are significantly more likely to report using marijuana (OR: 4.19; CI: 3.42-5.13), cocaine (OR: 9.10; CI: 6.50–13.00), methamphetamine (OR: 8.90; CI: 6.84–11.67), and ecstasy (OR: 6.65; CI: 5.14–8.61) compared to students who had sex after age 13. Additionally, students who initiated sex before age 13 were significantly more likely to engage in early onset (prior to 13 years of age) of alcohol consumption (OR: 5.10; CI: 4.20-6.20) and cigarette smoking (OR: 9.52; CI: 7.46-12.30) compared to students who initiated sex after age 13. Conclusion: Significant associations indicate the need to concurrently address potential substance use as part of programs focusing on early sexual debut among adolescents in the United States.