Examining marijuana use, sexual risk, and HIV testing outcomes among young people with intersecting marginalized social identities in juvenile drug courts

Abstract

We explored clinical outcomes among adolescents in juvenile drug court (JDC) by ethnoracial or gender identity, economic security, and mental health problems. Self-report and drug testing data were obtained through a randomized control trial (RCT) with 101 adolescents in JDC at four time points (i.e., baseline, 3-month immediate post, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up). Participants who identified as an adolescent girl and who were identified as having a mental health disorder demonstrated significant increases in talking about HIV 12 months after completing the intervention. Sexual risk behaviors increased for girls, Black, and Latine youth and decreased among adolescents with mental health problems. Marijuana use did not differ over time by identity. Programing that targets risk behaviors, including substance use and seemingly unrelated risk behaviors like risky sexual behavior, is warranted in addition to mental health services to improve health outcomes of adolescents with a history of juvenile legal system involvement.