Asian-Pacific Islander Adolescent Methamphetamine Use: Does “Ice” Increase Aggression and Sexual Risks?

Abstract

Using a probability sample from a 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Asian-Pacific Islander youths in Guam, this brief study examined the outcomes for methamphetamine use on aggression and risky sexual activities. The results of the study indicated that both male and female adolescents who used methamphetamine were significantly more likely to participate in aggressive behaviors and sexual risks (i.e., numerous sex partners). The inclusion of grade point averages in a logistic regression equation revealed that White adolescents were more likely than other ethnicities to indicate that they had used methamphetamine and the inclusion of student grade point averages reduced male gender to nonsignificance. We also discuss the limitations of the study.

Keywords:

• aggressive behaviors
• methamphetamine
• risky sex
• social control theory

Notes

¹The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.