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Drug Use, Sexual Activity, and Suicidal Behavior in U.S. High School Students
Author(s) -
Burge Valerie,
Felts Michael,
Chenier Thomas,
Parrillo Anthony V.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1995.tb03366.x
Subject(s) - suicide prevention , suicidal ideation , psychology , clinical psychology , injury prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , substance use , youth risk behavior survey , sexual behavior , occupational safety and health , substance abuse , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , pathology
Data from the 1990 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used to examine the interrelationship of drug use, sexual activity, and suicidal behavior in U.S. high school students. Findings indicated adolescents who engaged in substance use and/or sexual activity were more likely to experience suicide ideation and behavior than those who abstained from such activities. Data analysis revealed a significant and positive relationship between cocaine use and severity of outcomes of suicide attempts. Marijuana use and alcohol use were related to suicide behavior, but these relationships were not as strong as those noted for cocaine use. The study also revealed a positive relationship between frequency of sexual activity and attempted suicide, but could not determine whether such sexual activity was coerced, forced, or voluntary in nature.