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The use of fry (embalming fluid and PCP-laced cigarettes or marijuana sticks) among crack cocaine smokers.

Ronald J Peters, Mark G. Williams, Michael W Ross, John Atkinson, Sherly A McCurdy

Journal of Drug Education 2008 DOI: 10.2190/de.38.3.f (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed
Sample size 426
Population African-American crack users in Houston, Texas
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Humans Substance-related disorders Marijuana abuse Phencyclidine abuse Crack cocaine Prevalence Cross-sectional studies Sexual behavior Health status Adolescent Texas Female Young adult Surveys and questionnaires
Key findings Among 426 African-American crack users in Houston, those who had ever used "fry" were more likely than never-users to report no casual sex partner (92% vs. 84%) and a gonorrhea diagnosis in the past 12 months (9% vs. 2%), and had higher odds of trading sex for drugs (OR = 2.30), marijuana use (OR = 12.11), and codeine syrup use (OR = 8.10).

Abstract

Statistics show that the prevalence of crack cocaine use and embalming fluid and phencyclidine (PCP)-laced cigarettes or marijuana sticks, commonly referred to on the street as "fry" or "wet" is a problem; however, the relationship between these substances of abuse and concurrent polydrug use is unknown. In the present study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 426 African-American crack users in Houston, Texas, to investigate the difference between those who concurrently reported lifetime (defined as at least one usage of fry in life) fry use and those who stated they never used fry. The data were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression analyses. Fry users were significantly more likely than non-users to not have a casual sex partner (92% users vs. 84% non-users, p < or = 0.05) and were more likely to have been diagnosed with gonorrhea in the past 12 months (9% users vs. 2% non-users, p < or = 0.05). In addition fry users had significantly higher odds of currently trading sex for drugs (OR = 2.30, p < or = 0.05), marijuana use (OR = 12.11, p < or = 0.05), and codeine (syrup) use (OR = 8.10, p < or = 0.05). These findings are important in determining the "cultural novelties" relative to crack and fry use among younger African Americans.

Comparable studies

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Study Year Design Participants
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Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students 2006 Cross-sectional survey n = 149
Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents 2020 Cross-sectional survey
User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire 2010 Cross-sectional survey n = 600
Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... 2012 Cross-sectional survey n = 337

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