Drug Use and STD Risk Behavior Among DUI Offenders

Background:
Adults who use both alcohol and illicit drugs are three times more likely to have a STD in the past year than those who do not use alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or other drugs are likely to engage in other behaviors that impact their health.

Objective:
To survey participants of a court-mandated DUI intervention for adjudicated first offenders on drug use and sexual behaviors.

Method:
435 DUI offenders completed anonymous questionnaires. Logistic and OLS regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between drug use and sexual risk behaviors, and to identify predictors of STD infection.

Result:
Polysubstance use is common among this group of DUI offenders. A number of risky sexual practices were noted, especially among participants under the age of 40. Drug use and sex under the influence of AOD were significantly associated with a greater number of sex partners. Sex under the influence was also significantly associated with sex with non-monogamous partners. In turn, engaging in risky sexual practices predicted STD infection.

Conclusion:
DUI offenders are a multiple risk behavior group. In addition to driving under the influence of AOD, approximately half are polysubstance users and many are at high risk for STD infection due to the number of sex partners, the types of sex partners, and due to inconsistent condom use.

Implications:
Participants in court-mandated DUI programs are a high risk population that is not currently being targeted for STD risk reduction interventions.