Number 384 + June 28, 2007

Drug Use and Sexual Behaviors Reported by Adults:

United States, 1999–2002

Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; Rosemarie Hirsch, M.D., M.P.H.; Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S.; Benny Kottiri, Ph.D.;

Debra J. Brody, M.P.H.; Tatiana Louis, M.S., Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Abstract

This report presents prevalence estimates for self-reported adult drug use and

sexual behaviors in the United States. Data are from the National Health and

Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected from 1999 to 2002. NHANES

surveys a stratified multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized

population of the United States. Tables included in this report present estimates for

use of cocaine, including crack or freebase, or other street drugs, and sexual

behavior by selected sociodemographic characteristics among adults 20–59 years of

age.

Keywords: illicit drugs c sexual behavior c National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey

Introduction

Drug-related and sex-related

behaviors are of great public health

importance. Use of illicit drugs has been

shown to influence sexual behavior and

present risk factors for disease (1).

Risky sexual behaviors can result in

sexually transmitted diseases and

unintended pregnancies. This report is

intended to provide overall prevalence

estimates of drug use and sexual

behaviors in adults from a nationally

representative sample of the U.S.

civilian noninstitutionalized population.

A nationwide health promotion and

disease prevention agenda for the

improved health status of the United

States by year 2010 has targeted some

of these health risk behaviors (2).

Several federal surveys track the

prevalence of health risk behaviors in

the U.S. noninstitutionalized population

(3,4). Data used for this report were

collected in the 1999–2002 National

Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey (NHANES) conducted by the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention’s National Center for Health

Statistics (NCHS). Prevalence estimates

for adult health risk behaviors are

shown by selected sociodemographic

characteristics—including gender, age,

race and ethnicity, education, poverty

status, and marital status. Health risk

behaviors analyzed are cocaine,

including crack or freebase, or other

street drug use, and sexual behavior.

Methods

NHANES is composed of a series

of cross-sectional, nationally

representative health and nutrition

examination surveys of the U.S. civilian

noninstitutionalized population. Samples

are selected through a complex,

multistage probability design (5,6).

Beginning in 1999, NHANES became a

continuous, annual survey. Low-income

persons, adolescents 12–19 years,

persons 60 years of age and over,

African Americans, and Mexican

Americans were oversampled. The data

are released on public-use data files

every 2 years. The data used for this

report are from a combination of two

2-year cycles, 1999–2000 and 2001–

2002. Four years of data were used to

provide estimates with greater statistical

reliability for demographic subdomains.

Participants in the survey were

administered detailed, in-person home

interviews followed by standardized

health examinations in a Mobile Exam

Center (MEC). A combined total of

25,316 sample persons, ranging in age

from birth to over 85 years, were

eligible for the surveys in 1999–2002;

of these, 21,004 (83%) were home

interviewed and 19,759 (78%) had

examinations at the MEC.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Center for Health Statistics 
2 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Sexual behavior and drug use

information for adults 20–59 years of

age (n=6,237) was collected at the MEC

using Audio Computer-Assisted

Self-Interview (ACASI). This mode was

used for the first time in NHANES to

allow respondents to answer questions

in complete privacy about socially

sensitive questions related to drug use

and sexual behavior. Prior to 1999,

many of these same questions were

asked in face-to-face private interviews.

Studies have shown that the selfreporting of stigmatized behaviors vary

by the mode of survey instrument, and

that generally the more private methods

of interviewing yield higher reporting of

these behaviors. ACASI, which offers

computer-based recorded playback

features, has demonstrated participants’

willingness to report socially sensitive

behaviors more often than with

face-to-face interviews (7–10).

Public-use data files and questions

for each of these components can be

found at the National Center for Health

Statistics’ NHANES website: http://

www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

Definitions for risk behaviors used in

this report can be found in the

‘‘Technical Notes’’ of this report.

Strengths and

Limitations of the Data

Limitations of self-reported data

include recall problems and intentional

misreporting of behaviors. Survey

planners attempted to minimize response

errors by implementing ACASI for the

drug use and sexual behaviors questions

asked in the NHANES survey.

Respondents commented on its ease of

use. NHANES did not survey the

homeless, persons in prisons, or

institutionalized populations; and

therefore the findings are not

representative of the U.S. adult

population as a whole.

Statistical Analysis

Percentages and standard errors are

presented for all adult health risk

behaviors in this report. The standard

errors of the percentages (or medians)

were estimated by Taylor Series

Linearization (11), a method that

incorporates the sample weights and

accounts for the sample design.

Four-year MEC weights were applied to

the drug and sexual behavior data to

account for differential probabilities of

selection, nonresponse, and

noncoverage. A relative standard error

(RSE) greater than 30% was used to

identify unreliable estimates (5,6). The

RSE is defined as the ratio of the

standard error of the estimate divided by

the estimate multiplied by 100. In the

tables, an estimate with a RSE greater

than 30% is identified with an asterisk

(*). No estimates had a RSE greater

than 40%. Age adjustment was

performed using the direct method,

employing U.S. Census population

estimates for the year 2000 (12). Drug

use and sexual behavior estimates were

age adjusted using the age groups 20–29

years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years.

T-tests at the .05 significance level

with no adjustments for multiple

comparisons were used to assess

significance of differences between

point estimates. Terms such as ‘‘more

likely,’’ ‘‘less likely,’’ ‘‘was higher,’’

‘‘was lower,’’ and ‘‘compared with’’

indicate a statistically significant

difference. Terms such as ‘‘similar’’ or

‘‘no difference’’ indicate that the

differences between estimates being

compared were not statistically

significant. Lack of comment regarding

the difference between estimates does

not mean that a significance test was

performed and found to be not

significant. All data analyses were

performed using the statistical packages

SAS version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary,

NC) and SUDAAN version 9.0 (RTI,

Research Triangle Park, NC).

Selected Highlights

Drug use

All adults (Table 1):

+ Twenty-one percent of adults 20–59

years old have tried cocaine or street

drugs at some time in their life.

+ Five and a half percent of adults used

cocaine or street drugs within the past

12 months.

+ Adults 50–59 years old had the

lowest percentage of ever use and

past year use of cocaine or street

drugs.

+ Past year use of cocaine or street

drugs increased as the age group

became younger, with the youngest

age group (20–29 years) having the

highest prevalence.

+ Non-Hispanic white persons had a

higher percentage of ever using

cocaine or street drugs while

non-Hispanic black persons had a

higher percentage of past year use.

+ Persons with more than a high school

education had the lowest percentage

of ever used and past year use of

cocaine or street drugs.

+ The proportion of people ever using

cocaine or street drugs did not vary

by poverty level, however, individuals

living at two or more times the

poverty level had the lowest

percentage of past year use.

+ Married adults were less likely to

have used cocaine or other street

drugs in their lifetime or in the past

year.

Gender (Tables 2 and 3):

+ Men were more likely to have ever

tried cocaine or street drugs (26%)

than women (17%).

+ Men were more likely to have used

cocaine or street drugs in the past

year (7%) than women (4%).

Sexual behaviors:

All adults (Table 4):

+ Approximately 96% of adults age

20–59 years have had sex, with the

age group 20–29 having the lowest

percent (91%).

+ Of all race or ethnic groups, Mexican

Americans had the lowest percentage

of persons (88%) ever having sex.

+ Adults who had less than a high

school education (92%), lived below

the poverty level (91%), or were

never married (89%) had the lowest

prevalence of ever having sex.

+ Sixteen percent of adults first had sex

before the age of 15, while 15% of

adults abstained from sex until age 21

or older.

+ Sex before the age of 15 increased as

the age groups became younger,

conversely, abstaining from sex until
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 3

age 21 or older increased in the older

age groups.

+ The proportion of adults who first

had sex before the age of 15 was

highest for non-Hispanic black

persons (28%) compared with

Mexican American persons (14%)

and non-Hispanic white persons

(14%).

+ Only 6% of non-Hispanic black

persons abstained from sex until age

21 years and older compared with

Mexican American persons (17%)

and non-Hispanic white persons

(15%).

+ The proportion of adults who first

had sex before the age of 15 was

highest for persons with less than a

high school education (27%)

compared with persons with a high

school education (19%) and persons

with more than a high school

education (10%).

+ Nineteen percent of adults with more

than a high school education

abstained from sex until age 21 years

and older compared with persons

with a high school education (8.6%)

and persons with less than a high

school education (8.0%).

+ The proportion of people who have

had sex before the age of 15 was

lowest for persons living at two or

more times the poverty level.

+ The proportion of people who have

had sex before the age of 15 was

highest for persons who were

currently cohabitating.

Gender (Tables 5–10):

+ Males were more likely than females

to have had sex before the age of 15.

+ The proportion of adults who have

had sex before the age of 15 did not

differ between males and females for

individuals 20–29 years of age,

individuals living below the poverty

level, or individuals who were

cohabiting.

+ Twenty-nine percent of men reported

having 15 or more female sexual

partners in a lifetime compared with

9% of women who reported having

15 or more male sexual partners in a

lifetime.

+ The median number of lifetime

female sexual partners for men was

seven and the median number of

lifetime male sexual partners for

women was four.

+ Mexican-American males and females

had the highest percent (24% and

45%, respectively) of having one or

no sexual partners in a lifetime.

+ Non-Hispanic black men and women

were more likely to have a higher

percentage of 15 or more partners in

a lifetime (46% and 13%,

respectively) than other race or ethnic

groups.

+ Men were more likely to have two or

more sexual partners in the past year

(17%) than women (10%).

+ Both men and women in the youngest

age group (20–29 years) had a higher

percentage of two or more partners in

the past year than other age groups,

although men in this age group had a

higher percentage than women (31%

and 19%, respectively).

+ Non-Hispanic black men and women

had a higher percentage of two or

more partners in the past year than

other race or ethnic groups, although

non-Hispanic black men had a higher

percentage than non-Hispanic black

women (37% and 19%, respectively).

+ Of males and females, with no sexual

partners in the past year, 21% of both

had less than a high school education,

24% and 28%, respectively, lived

below the poverty level, and 41% and

47%, respectively, were never

married.

References

1. Demographic and behavioral

predictors of sexual risk in the

NIMH multisite HIV prevention trial.

AIDS 1997(11); suppl 2:s2-s27.

2. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services. Healthy People

2010: Understanding and improving

health. 2d ed. Washington, DC: U.S.

Government Printing Office,

November 2000.

3. Mosher WD, Chandra A, Jones J.

Sexual behavior and selected health

measures: Men and women 15–44

years of age, United States, 2002.

Advance data from vital and health

statistics; no.362. Hyattsville, MD:

National Center for Health Statistics.

2005.

4. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Substance Abuse

and Mental Health Services

Administration. National Survey on

Drug Use and Health. Available

from: https://nsduhweb.rti.org/.

5. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services. Analytic and

reporting guidelines: The Third

National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey, NHANES III

(1988–94). 1996. Available from:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/

nhanes3/nh3gui.pdf.

6. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services. The National

Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey (NHANES) analytic and

reporting guidelines: Survey. 2004.

Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/data/nhanes/

nhanes_general_guidelines_june_04.pdf.

7. Rogers SM, et al. ACASI to measure

HIV risk behaviors in a clinic

population. Sex Transm Infect

81(6):501–7. 2005.

8. Turner CF, et al. Reducing bias in

telephone survey estimates of the

prevalence of drug use: A

randomized trial of telephone

ACASI. Addiction 200(10):1432–44.

2005.

9. Newman JC, Des Jarlais DC, Turner

CF, et al. The differential effects of

face-to-face and computer interview

modes. AJPH 92:294–7. 2002.

10. Hewett PC, Mensch BS, Erulkar AS.

Consistency in reporting of sexual

behaviour by adolescent girls in

Kenya: A comparison of interviewing

methods. Sex Transm Infect 80(Suppl

II):ii43–8. 2004.

11. Wolter KM. Introduction to variance

estimation. New York, NY: SpringerVerlag. 1985.

12. Klein RJ, Schoenborn CA. Age

adjustment using the 2000 projected

U.S. population. Healthy People

Statistical Notes, no 20. Hyattsville,

MD: National Center for Health

Statistics. 2001.
4 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Table 1. Ever use and past year use of cocaine or street drugs for adults 20–59 years of age, by selected characteristics: United States,

1999–2002

Cocaine or street drug use

Ever Standard Past year Standard

Characteristic (percent) error (percent) error

Both sexes

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 ....................... 21.4 1.0 5.5 0.4

20 years and over (crude) ............................. 21.3 1.0 5.5 0.4

Age

20–29 years ...................................... 19.4 1.8 9.5 1.5

30–39 years ...................................... 27.4 1.6 6.8 0.8

40–49 years ...................................... 25.9 1.3 3.8 0.5

50–59 years ...................................... 9.6 1.3 1.6 0.4

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American .................................. 16.4 1.6 5.9 0.8

Non-Hispanic white.................................. 23.5 1.5 5.4 0.6

Non-Hispanic black.................................. 18.0 1.6 7.1 0.8

Education1

Less than high school ................................ 23.0 1.9 8.3 0.9

High school diploma or GED3 ........................... 23.9 1.8 6.8 0.9

More than high school ................................ 19.6 1.0 3.9 0.4

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level.................................. 21.4 2.0 6.9 0.9

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ..................... 21.2 1.9 9.2 1.2

2 or more times poverty level ........................... 21.6 1.2 4.6 0.4

Marital status1

Married ......................................... 16.5 1.1 2.3 0.3

Widowed, divorced, or separated ......................... 27.1 2.5 8.6 1.3

Never married ..................................... 31.0 1.6 10.0 1.1

Cohabitating ...................................... 37.3 3.6 10.0 1.6

1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 5

Table 2. Ever use and past year use of cocaine or street drugs for adult males 20–59 years of age, by selected characteristics:

United States, 1999–2002

Cocaine or street drug use

Ever Standard Past year Standard

Characteristic (percent) error (percent) error

Male

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 ....................... 26.0 1.3 7.3 0.6

20 years and over (crude) ............................. 25.9 1.3 7.3 0.6

Age

20–29 years ...................................... 24.4 2.6 12.8 2.0

30–39 years ...................................... 32.0 1.9 8.4 1.1

40–49 years ...................................... 31.5 2.1 5.6 0.9

50–59 years ...................................... 12.4 1.7 *2.0 0.6

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American .................................. 21.9 2.2 8.2 1.1

Non-Hispanic white.................................. 27.9 1.8 7.1 0.9

Non-Hispanic black.................................. 23.7 1.7 10.8 1.2

Education1

Less than high school ................................ 29.8 2.7 11.1 1.1

High school diploma or GED3 ........................... 28.9 2.1 9.1 1.3

More than high school ................................ 23.1 1.3 4.9 0.7

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level.................................. 25.2 3.2 8.3 1.3

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ..................... 25.8 1.9 11.6 1.6

2 or more times poverty level ........................... 26.2 1.5 6.5 0.7

Marital status1

Married ......................................... 20.0 1.3 3.6 0.5

Widowed, divorced, or separated ......................... 36.7 4.5 14.6 2.5

Never married ..................................... 39.0 2.9 12.2 1.8

Cohabitating ...................................... 41.7 5.0 10.9 2.4

* Estimate does not meet standards of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%). 1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
6 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Table 3. Ever use and past year use of cocaine or street drugs for adult females 20–59 years of age, by selected characteristics:

United States, 1999–2002

Cocaine or street drug use

Ever Standard Past year Standard

Characteristic (percent) error (percent) error

Female

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 ....................... 16.8 1.2 3.7 0.5

20 years and over (crude) ............................. 16.8 1.2 3.7 0.5

Age

20–29 years ...................................... 14.1 2.0 6.0 1.4

30–39 years ...................................... 22.8 1.9 5.4 1.1

40–49 years ...................................... 20.5 1.6 2.0 0.4

50–59 years ...................................... 6.9 1.5 *1.3 0.6

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American .................................. 10.0 1.4 3.0 0.7

Non-Hispanic white.................................. 19.1 1.7 3.7 0.8

Non-Hispanic black.................................. 13.0 2.0 3.9 1.0

Education1

Less than high school ................................ 16.0 2.4 5.4 1.5

High school diploma or GED3 ........................... 18.8 2.0 4.4 1.1

More than high school ................................ 16.3 1.4 3.1 0.5

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level.................................. 18.0 2.1 5.6 1.2

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ..................... 17.2 2.7 6.9 1.4

2 or more times poverty level ........................... 16.5 1.4 2.5 0.6

Marital status1

Married ......................................... 13.1 1.3 1.2 0.3

Widowed, divorced, or separated ......................... 20.9 1.8 4.9 1.2

Never married ..................................... 20.8 2.9 7.1 1.4

Cohabitating ...................................... 32.9 3.8 9.7 2.2

* Estimate does not meet standards of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%). 1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 7

Table 4. Percent distribution of ever having sex and age at initiation of sex for adults 20–59 years of age, by selected characteristics:

United States, 1999–2002

Age first had sex

Less than 15–17 18–20 21 years

Characteristic Ever Total 15 years years years or more

Both sexes Percent distribution (standard error)

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 .............. 95.9 (0.4) 100.0 15.6 (0.7) 41.3 (0.9) 28.4 (0.8) 14.7 (1.0)

20 years and over (crude) .................... 95.9 (0.4) 100.0 15.5 (0.7) 41.1 (0.9) 28.5 (0.7) 14.9 (1.0)

Age

20–29 years ............................ 90.9 (1.5) 100.0 20.1 (1.3) 46.5 (1.9) 24.2 (1.4) 9.1 (1.5)

30–39 years ............................ 96.6 (0.6) 100.0 17.0 (1.5) 45.0 (1.6) 24.5 (1.6) 13.5 (1.5)

40–49 years ............................ 97.7 (0.5) 100.0 13.4 (1.2) 39.8 (1.7) 29.6 (1.7) 17.2 (1.6)

50–59 years ............................ 98.3 (0.4) 100.0 11.6 (1.1) 32.3 (1.8) 36.6 (2.0) 19.5 (1.3)

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American......................... 88.2 (1.6) 100.0 14.3 (1.4) 39.4 (1.6) 29.6 (1.2) 16.6 (1.1)

Non-Hispanic white ........................ 97.2 (0.4) 100.0 13.9 (0.9) 42.0 (1.2) 29.1 (1.1) 15.0 (1.3)

Non-Hispanic black ........................ 95.7 (0.8) 100.0 27.5 (1.6) 45.6 (2.0) 21.1 (1.3) 5.8 (0.7)

Education1

Less than high school ...................... 91.8 (1.1) 100.0 27.2 (1.3) 44.7 (2.1) 20.1 (1.2) 8.0 (0.9)

High school diploma or GED3

.................. 96.3 (0.7) 100.0 19.4 (1.1) 46.4 (1.7) 25.6 (1.5) 8.6 (1.1)

More than high school ...................... 97.0 (0.4) 100.0 10.4 (0.8) 38.3 (1.0) 32.0 (1.1) 19.3 (1.5)

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level ........................ 91.3 (1.0) 100.0 24.8 (1.9) 39.9 (2.2) 22.5 (1.2) 12.8 (2.0)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ............ 95.6 (0.7) 100.0 21.6 (2.1) 44.2 (2.3) 22.3 (2.5) 11.9 (1.4)

2 or more times poverty level .................. 97.3 (0.3) 100.0 12.5 (0.8) 41.1 (1.2) 31.1 (1.0) 15.3 (1.2)

Marital status1

Married ............................... 98.1 (0.4) 100.0 13.3 (1.0) 40.7 (1.7) 29.5 (1.4) 16.5 (1.6)

Widowed, divorced, or separated ............... 97.7 (0.6) 100.0 17.6 (2.2) 45.9 (3.2) 27.2 (2.8) 9.3 (1.2)

Never married ........................... 88.7 (1.1) 100.0 18.0 (1.4) 38.9 (2.4) 27.0 (2.6) 16.1 (1.9)

Cohabitating ............................ 98.6 (0.7) 100.0 27.3 (2.4) 41.9 (3.9) 23.3 (2.7) 7.6 (1.5)

1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
8 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Table 5. Percent distribution of ever having sex and age at initiation of sex for adult males 20–59 years of age, by selected

characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Age first had sex

Less than 15–17 18–20 21 years

Characteristic Ever Total 15 years years years or more

Male Percent distribution (standard error)

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 .............. 95.5 (0.4) 100.0 19.0 (0.9) 41.2 (1.1) 26.7 (1.0) 13.1 (1.3)

20 years and over (crude) .................... 95.5 (0.4) 100.0 19.0 (0.9) 41.2 (1.1) 26.8 (1.1) 13.1 (1.3)

Age

20–29 years ............................ 90.9 (1.3) 100.0 21.6 (1.8) 43.2 (2.4) 25.6 (1.8) 9.6 (1.7)

30–39 years ............................ 95.6 (0.7) 100.0 21.6 (2.2) 43.2 (2.3) 22.5 (2.0) 12.6 (2.1)

40–49 years ............................ 97.4 (0.8) 100.0 15.9 (1.5) 44.0 (2.4) 24.1 (2.3) 16.0 (2.3)

50–59 years ............................ 97.9 (0.5) 100.0 16.9 (1.8) 32.5 (2.0) 37.0 (2.3) 13.7 (1.4)

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American......................... 87.8 (2.2) 100.0 18.7 (2.2) 46.0 (2.6) 26.3 (1.7) 9.0 (1.3)

Non-Hispanic white ........................ 96.7 (0.5) 100.0 16.2 (1.1) 41.3 (1.5) 28.7 (1.3) 13.8 (1.7)

Non-Hispanic black ........................ 96.0 (0.9) 100.0 36.9 (2.1) 41.8 (2.5) 16.4 (1.8) 4.9 (0.9)

Education1

Less than high school ...................... 91.7 (1.2) 100.0 31.8 (1.9) 42.9 (2.5) 18.4 (1.6) 6.9 (1.1)

High school diploma or GED3

.................. 95.4 (0.9) 100.0 24.1 (1.9) 42.2 (1.7) 25.6 (2.4) 8.1 (1.4)

More than high school ...................... 96.9 (0.6) 100.0 12.5 (0.9) 40.5 (1.7) 29.8 (1.6) 17.3 (2.0)

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level ........................ 89.3 (1.6) 100.0 27.0 (3.2) 35.7 (4.0) 20.4 (2.0) 16.8 (3.9)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ............ 95.3 (0.9) 100.0 26.6 (2.8) 44.5 (3.1) 18.6 (2.6) 10.3 (1.8)

2 or more times poverty level .................. 96.8 (0.6) 100.0 16.0 (1.0) 41.3 (1.7) 29.9 (1.4) 12.7 (1.5)

Marital status1

Married ............................... 97.6 (0.6) 100.0 17.0 (1.2) 40.0 (1.8) 28.3 (1.6) 14.6 (2.1)

Widowed, divorced, or separated ............... 96.3 (1.3) 100.0 23.4 (3.7) 45.2 (4.7) 21.9 (3.5) 9.4 (2.2)

Never married ........................... 88.8 (1.6) 100.0 22.3 (2.2) 41.7 (3.4) 23.7 (3.6) 12.2 (2.6)

Cohabitating ............................ 98.8 (0.7) 100.0 30.2 (3.6) 40.2 (4.2) 21.9 (4.2) *7.7 (2.8)

* Estimate does not meet standard of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%). 1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 9

Table 6. Percent distribution of ever having sex and age at initiation of sex for adult females 20–59 years of age, by selected

characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Age first had sex

Less than 15–17 18–20 21 years

Characteristic Ever Total 15 years years years or more

Female Percent distribution (standard error)

20 years and over (age-adjusted)1,2 .............. 96.3 (0.5) 100.0 12.3 (0.9) 41.4 (1.4) 29.9 (1.1) 16.3 (1.0)

20 years and over (crude) .................... 96.3 (0.6) 100.0 12.1 (0.8) 41.0 (1.4) 30.2 (1.1) 16.6 (1.0)

Age

20–29 years ............................ 90.9 (1.9) 100.0 18.7 (2.4) 50.0 (2.8) 22.7 (2.0) 8.7 (1.6)

30–39 years ............................ 97.5 (0.6) 100.0 12.5 (1.5) 46.6 (2.6) 26.4 (2.3) 14.4 (1.6)

40–49 years ............................ 97.9 (0.5) 100.0 11.0 (1.4) 35.7 (1.9) 35.0 (2.2) 18.2 (1.9)

50–59 years ............................ 98.6 (0.5) 100.0 6.4 (1.4) 32.1 (2.5) 36.3 (2.7) 25.2 (1.8)

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American......................... 88.9 (1.3) 100.0 9.3 (1.6) 32.3 (2.0) 33.6 (1.6) 24.8 (2.1)

Non-Hispanic white ........................ 97.8 (0.6) 100.0 11.6 (1.1) 42.7 (1.7) 29.5 (1.5) 16.2 (1.4)

Non-Hispanic black ........................ 95.4 (1.1) 100.0 19.2 (2.3) 48.8 (2.9) 25.3 (2.4) 6.8 (1.0)

Education1

Less than high school ...................... 92.0 (1.5) 100.0 22.1 (2.2) 46.8 (3.2) 22.1 (1.9) 9.0 (1.2)

High school diploma or GED3

.................. 97.2 (0.6) 100.0 14.7 (1.9) 50.8 (3.2) 25.3 (1.9) 9.2 (1.6)

More than high school ...................... 97.1 (0.5) 100.0 8.5 (1.0) 36.2 (1.7) 34.1 (1.2) 21.2 (1.4)

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level ........................ 92.7 (1.8) 100.0 22.9 (2.7) 43.0 (3.0) 24.4 (2.3) 9.7 (1.8)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ............ 96.0 (0.8) 100.0 17.1 (2.1) 44.2 (2.8) 25.5 (3.3) 13.1 (1.8)

2 or more times poverty level .................. 98.0 (0.4) 100.0 8.8 (0.9) 41.0 (1.8) 32.3 (1.4) 17.9 (1.4)

Marital status1

Married ............................... 98.4 (0.4) 100.0 9.7 (1.2) 41.0 (2.1) 30.9 (1.6) 18.5 (1.5)

Widowed, divorced, or separated ............... 98.7 (0.5) 100.0 14.0 (1.8) 46.3 (3.7) 30.5 (3.5) 9.2 (1.6)

Never married ........................... 88.6 (2.2) 100.0 12.5 (1.9) 35.6 (3.3) 31.0 (3.6) 20.9 (2.9)

Cohabitating ............................ 98.2 (1.3) 100.0 23.3 (3.1) 44.9 (4.6) 24.4 (4.0) *7.3 (2.3)

* Estimate does not meet standard of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%). 1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
Table 7. Percent distribution of males by number of female sexual partners in lifetime and median number of partners for adults 20–59

years of age, by selected characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Characteristic Total

Number of female sexual partners in lifetime

0–1 2–6 7–14

15 or

more Median1

Male Percent distribution (standard error)

20–59 years of age (age-adjusted)2,3 ............. 100.0 16.6 (0.9) 33.8 (1.0) 20.7 (1.0) 28.9 (1.3) . . .

20–59 years of age (crude) ................... 100.0 16.7 (1.0) 33.8 (1.0) 20.7 (1.0) 28.9 (1.4) 6.8 (0.4)

Age

20–29 years ............................ 100.0 23.7 (1.9) 33.5 (2.5) 20.1 (2.0) 22.7 (2.4) 5.4 (0.6)

30–39 years ............................ 100.0 15.0 (1.5) 32.2 (1.5) 22.3 (2.1) 30.4 (1.8) 7.6 (0.7)

40–49 years ............................ 100.0 12.9 (1.4) 35.4 (2.0) 20.0 (1.6) 31.6 (2.1) 6.9 (0.6)

50–59 years ............................ 100.0 15.6 (1.8) 33.9 (1.6) 20.1 (1.9) 30.4 (2.4) 6.9 (0.7)

Race and ethnicity2

Mexican American. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 23.8 (1.7) 38.2 (3.0) 18.1 (1.6) 19.9 (1.9) 4.7 (0.4)

Non-Hispanic white ........................ 100.0 16.6 (1.2) 34.8 (1.3) 21.3 (1.2) 27.4 (1.7) 6.2 (0.6)

Non-Hispanic black ........................ 100.0 6.4 (1.1) 22.2 (2.3) 25.2 (1.9) 46.2 (2.2) 12.5 (1.4)

Education2

Less than high school ...................... 100.0 17.0 (1.5) 30.7 (1.8) 20.8 (2.1) 31.5 (2.1) 8.1 (0.7)

High school diploma or GED4

.................. 100.0 15.4 (1.7) 33.3 (1.9) 20.6 (1.5) 30.6 (2.2) 7.3 (0.7)

More than high school ...................... 100.0 17.1 (1.1) 34.7 (1.2) 20.9 (1.3) 27.3 (1.7) 6.0 (0.6)

Poverty2,5

Below poverty level ........................ 100.0 20.6 (2.7) 32.7 (2.9) 17.9 (1.7) 28.7 (2.4) 6.3 (0.7)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level............ 100.0 13.4 (1.7) 30.9 (2.0) 20.5 (1.5) 35.2 (2.1) 7.4 (0.7)

2 or more times poverty level .................. 100.0 16.5 (1.2) 33.6 (1.2) 21.7 (1.4) 28.3 (1.6) 6.7 (0.5)

Marital status2

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 18.8 (1.2) 37.8 (1.5) 20.2 (1.6) 23.2 (1.6) 5.1 (0.2)

Widowed, divorced, or separated ............... 100.0 6.1 (1.7) 29.5 (3.0) 22.8 (2.9) 41.6 (3.5) 11.5 (1.6)

Never married ........................... 100.0 18.9 (1.7) 27.5 (2.2) 18.3 (2.2) 35.3 (3.4) 7.4 (0.9)

Cohabitating ............................ 100.0 *6.3 (2.1) 24.9 (3.1) 25.8 (3.7) 43.1 (4.0) 9.7 (1.3)

* Estimate does not meet standards of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%).

. . . Data not applicable. 1

Median values exclude males with no female sexual partners.

2

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years.

3

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total.

4

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma.

5

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).

10 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 11

Table 8. Percent distribution of males by number of female sexual partners in the past year for adults 20–59 years of age, by selected

characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Number of female sexual partners in the past year

Characteristic Total None 1 2 or more

Male Percent distribution (standard error)

20–59 years of age (age-adjusted)1,2 ............. 100.0 15.4 (1.0) 67.9 (1.3) 16.7 (0.9)

20–59 years of age (crude) ................... 100.0 15.4 (1.0) 67.9 (1.3) 16.7 (1.0)

Age

20–29 years ............................ 100.0 15.7 (1.4) 53.2 (2.0) 31.1 (1.9)

30–39 years ............................ 100.0 15.6 (1.5) 69.6 (2.0) 14.8 (1.5)

40–49 years ............................ 100.0 13.8 (2.0) 74.4 (2.4) 11.8 (1.5)

50–59 years ............................ 100.0 17.1 (1.7) 73.9 (2.1) 8.9 (1.3)

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American......................... 100.0 21.3 (1.8) 63.7 (2.5) 15.0 (1.3)

Non-Hispanic white ........................ 100.0 14.5 (1.2) 71.5 (1.4) 14.0 (1.1)

Non-Hispanic black ........................ 100.0 13.9 (1.6) 48.9 (2.4) 37.1 (2.4)

Education1

Less than high school ...................... 100.0 21.3 (1.5) 58.9 (1.8) 19.8 (1.7)

High school diploma or GED3

.................. 100.0 13.2 (2.1) 70.2 (2.2) 16.6 (1.7)

More than high school ...................... 100.0 14.6 (1.2) 69.8 (2.1) 15.6 (1.6)

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level ........................ 100.0 23.9 (2.7) 54.7 (3.0) 21.4 (2.2)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level ............ 100.0 13.9 (1.7) 64.2 (2.1) 21.9 (1.8)

2 or more times poverty level .................. 100.0 13.9 (1.4) 71.5 (1.9) 14.7 (1.2)

Marital status1

Married ............................... 100.0 6.7 (0.6) 85.9 (0.8) 7.3 (0.8)

Widowed, divorced, or separated ............... 100.0 25.3 (2.9) 38.7 (4.6) 36.0 (4.4)

Never married ........................... 100.0 40.5 (4.1) 29.9 (3.8) 29.6 (2.7)

Cohabitating ............................ 100.0 *4.8 (2.0) 80.2 (3.6) 15.1 (3.2)

* Estimate does not meet standards of reliability or precision (RSE > 30%). 1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
Table 9. Percent distribution of females by number of male sexual partners in lifetime and median number of partners for adults 20–59

years of age, by selected characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Characteristic Total

Number of male sexual partners in lifetime

0–1 2–6 7–14

15 or

more Median1

Female Percent distribution (standard error)

20–59 years of age (age-adjusted)2,3 ............... 100.0 25.0 (1.5) 44.3 (1.4) 21.3 (1.1) 9.4 (0.7) . . .

20–59 years of age (crude) ..................... 100.0 25.0 (1.5) 44.4 (1.4) 21.2 (1.1) 9.4 (0.7) 3.7 (0.1)

Age

20–29 years ............................... 100.0 28.0 (3.6) 44.4 (3.1) 19.5 (1.5) 8.2 (1.2) 3.7 (0.2)

30–39 years ............................... 100.0 19.1 (2.2) 43.5 (2.2) 26.2 (1.8) 11.3 (1.4) 4.6 (0.0)

40–49 years ............................... 100.0 24.6 (2.1) 43.4 (2.5) 21.6 (1.7) 10.4 (1.3) 3.5 (0.5)

50–59 years ............................... 100.0 29.9 (1.9) 46.8 (2.2) 16.4 (2.7) 6.9 (1.3) 2.7 (0.2)

Race and ethnicity2

Mexican American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 45.1 (1.7) 41.5 (1.8) 8.7 (1.3) 4.7 (1.0) 1.7 (0.0)

Non-Hispanic white .......................... 100.0 24.2 (2.0) 44.1 (1.7) 22.1 (1.4) 9.6 (1.0) 3.7 (0.3)

Non-Hispanic black .......................... 100.0 13.0 (1.0) 47.2 (2.2) 27.3 (1.9) 12.5 (1.6) 5.0 (0.2)

Education2

Less than high school ......................... 100.0 26.6 (2.3) 47.3 (2.6) 19.5 (1.6) 6.7 (1.3) 3.5 (0.5)

High school diploma or GED4 .................... 100.0 24.1 (1.7) 45.7 (2.7) 21.2 (2.4) 9.0 (1.5) 3.8 (0.3)

More than high school......................... 100.0 25.0 (2.1) 42.9 (1.7) 21.8 (1.5) 10.3 (1.0) 3.7 (0.3)

Poverty2,5

Below poverty level .......................... 100.0 21.0 (3.1) 46.5 (3.1) 23.0 (2.5) 9.5 (1.6) 4.3 (0.3)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level .............. 100.0 20.2 (1.9) 52.0 (2.9) 19.4 (2.1) 8.4 (1.8) 3.8 (0.3)

2 or more times poverty level .................... 100.0 25.7 (1.9) 43.1 (1.7) 21.1 (1.6) 10.0 (0.8) 3.5 (0.1)

Marital status2

Married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 31.8 (2.1) 46.8 (1.7) 15.7 (1.2) 5.8 (0.8) 2.6 (0.2)

Widowed, divorced, or separated .................. 100.0 8.0 (1.2) 45.0 (3.5) 33.1 (3.5) 13.9 (2.5) 5.8 (0.5)

Never married.............................. 100.0 19.0 (2.0) 39.0 (4.4) 30.0 (3.0) 12.1 (1.9) 5.1 (0.5)

Cohabitating............................... 100.0 7.9 (2.2) 49.2 (4.2) 28.5 (4.0) 14.5 (3.4) 4.7 (0.4)

. . . Data not applicable.

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less than 0.05.

1

Median values exclude females with no male sexual partners.

2

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years.

3

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total.

4

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma.

5

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).

12 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007
Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007 13

Table 10. Percent distribution of females by number of male sexual partners in the past year for adults 20–59 years of age, by selected

characteristics: United States, 1999–2002

Number of male sexual partners in the past year

2 or

Characteristic Total None 1 more

Female Percent distribution (standard error)

20–59 years of age (age-adjusted)1,2 ............... 100.0 17.7 (0.9) 72.3 (1.0) 10.0 (0.7)

20–59 years of age (crude) ..................... 100.0 17.8 (0.9) 72.3 (1.0) 9.9 (0.7)

Age

20–29 years ............................... 100.0 15.1 (2.1) 66.0 (2.3) 19.0 (2.1)

30–39 years ............................... 100.0 9.4 (1.5) 79.6 (2.0) 11.0 (1.4)

40–49 years ............................... 100.0 16.1 (1.4) 78.4 (1.4) 5.6 (0.7)

50–59 years ............................... 100.0 33.9 (2.5) 61.6 (2.8) 4.4 (1.0)

Race and ethnicity1

Mexican American ........................... 100.0 20.7 (1.6) 70.8 (1.6) 8.5 (0.8)

Non-Hispanic white .......................... 100.0 15.7 (1.1) 75.9 (1.5) 8.5 (0.8)

Non-Hispanic black .......................... 100.0 20.4 (2.0) 60.6 (1.8) 19.0 (1.6)

Education1

Less than high school ......................... 100.0 21.1 (1.7) 66.8 (1.9) 12.1 (1.5)

High school diploma or GED3 .................... 100.0 15.4 (1.5) 73.3 (1.8) 11.3 (1.6)

More than high school......................... 100.0 17.5 (1.2) 73.5 (1.1) 9.0 (0.9)

Poverty1,4

Below poverty level .......................... 100.0 28.1 (2.7) 55.6 (3.0) 16.3 (2.2)

1 to less than 2 times the poverty level .............. 100.0 22.7 (2.1) 65.2 (2.6) 12.1 (2.3)

2 or more times poverty level .................... 100.0 14.0 (0.9) 77.7 (1.3) 8.3 (0.9)

Marital status1

Married .................................. 100.0 6.0 (0.7) 90.9 (0.8) 3.1 (0.4)

Widowed, divorced, or separated .................. 100.0 32.0 (1.8) 41.7 (3.4) 26.3 (3.1)

Never married.............................. 100.0 46.5 (3.1) 36.0 (2.8) 17.4 (2.3)

Cohabitating............................... 100.0 11.0 (2.9) 80.7 (3.9) 8.3 (2.4)

1

Estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using age groups 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–59 years. 2

Persons of other race and ethnicity, unknown education, poverty status, or marital status are included in the total. 3

GED is General Education Development high school equivalency diploma. 4

Poverty status levels are based on poverty income ratio (PIR): the ratio of income to the family’s appropiate poverty threshold (U.S. Census Bureau).
14 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Technical Notes

Definitions of selected terms:

Drug use:

Ever use drugs—Ever use of

cocaine, including crack or freebase, or

other street drugs. Marijuana use is not

included.

Past year use—Number of days

used cocaine, including crack or

freebase, or other street drugs in the past

year (asked of those who responded

‘‘yes’’ to ever using drugs). Again,

marijuana use is not included. Estimates

presented as percent of U.S. population.

Sexual behavior:

Ever had sex—Ever had sex by

means of vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

Age first had sex—Respondents

asked how old they were when they first

had sex (asked of those who responded

‘‘yes’’ to ever having sex).

Number of sexual partners—

Participants asked about the number of

people they had sex with in the past

year and in their lifetime.
16 Advance Data No. 384 + June 28, 2007

Suggested citation

Fryar CD, Hirsch R, Porter KS, Kottiri B, Brody

DJ, Louis T. Drug use and sexual behaviors

reported by adults: United States, 1999–2002.

Advance data from vital and health statistics;

no. 384. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for

Health Statistics. 2007.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the

public domain and may be reproduced or

copied without permission; citation as to

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Director

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.

Acting Co-Deputy Directors

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D.

Michael H. Sadagursky

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, MD 20782

FIRST CLASS

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

CDC/NCHS

PERMIT NO. G-284

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

To receive this publication regularly, contact

the National Center for Health Statistics by

calling 1-800-232-4636

E-mail: nchsquery@cdc.gov

Internet: www.cdc.gov/nchs

CS111494 (6/2007)

T28618

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2007-1250