Drugs and prostitution

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Drugs and prostitution have been documented to have a direct correlation.

Contents

Drug use tended to predate prostitution among low-level prostitutes with the connection most likely due to economic necessity. Low-level prostitutes tended to use depressants, specifically heroin, as the drug of choice. High-class prostitution showed that prostitution predates drug use with stimulants being the drug of choice. [1]

A 1994 study among South London prostitutes showed links between sexual behavior, severity of dependence, and use of heroin, alcohol, and (to a lesser extent) cocaine. [2]

Substance use

In the case of street prostitutes, estimates reveal that between 40 and 85 percent of all street prostitutes use substances. [1] A study conducted by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse in the UK, has suggested that as 95% of women that are involved with street prostitution in the UK are heroin or crack cocaine users. [3] However, organisations such as the English Collective of Prostitutes argue that such a figure is "unreliable as a national statistic", [4] claiming that it originated "from a 2004 study of 71 women, contacted through an outreach project in Bristol [...] who were particularly vulnerable", [5] and that there "are no reliable recent national figures of drug use among sex workers" [6] in the UK.

Prostitutes who reported a problem with drug use had begun the use of hard drugs at an earlier age (16.2 years old). Because of these early experiences with drugs, these people often begin sex work early in their lives. The average age for people who engage in sex work with substance use was five months younger than those who have had no problem with drugs (19 years and 2 months old, instead of 19 years 7 months old). [7]

Drug use is also linked with outdoor cruising, which involves cruising around a street looking for clients, and independent drifting which means prostitution from personal phones or crack houses. 84% of these workers, who work in this sector, reported problems with substance use, in comparison to the 13%, who work in an indoor-associated escort-type agency, such as a sauna, massage parlor, flat or Escort agency. [7]

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Problem-Orientated Policing, of the sex workers over 25 who had experience with drug use, more than 70% have taken cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin. Furthermore, for sex workers at 16 to 19 years of age who have taken drugs, over 70% of them have experienced cannabis, cocaine, and crack cocaine. [7]

Prostitutes also use mind-altering drugs such as alcohol, PCP, and LSD; in addition to psychoactive drugs such as diazepam and Pethidine. Researchers have found the choice of drug to be important to the prostitute in serving real or perceived functions. [8] In the case of heroin, it may be used to adjust to a life which they resent, as it increases peoples ability to withstand emotional and physical stress. Cocaine and other stimulants have also been reported to increase the confidence of streetwalkers' ability to talk to strangers, and allow for these sex workers to maintain their energy levels. Moreover, New York call-girls consume alcohol as means of protecting themselves from insults, both physically and emotionally. [8] In addition, certain drugs, such as MDMA, are known to increase their effects on sex. Someone who wishes to enhance their sexual experience may turn to drugs in order to increase endurance, intensify sensations, and prolong the encounter. [9]

At the street level, pimps often use drugs to exert control over prostitutes. Many pimps are also drug dealers and attract and lure women with free drugs and the promise of a high-rolling lifestyle. Pimps intend on getting these women addicted to drugs, and often target those who are at increased risk of addiction. Women targeted in this way may have financial or emotional problems, come from dysfunctional families, or have a drug addiction already. Once addicted, they will continue seeking drugs from the pimp, who will then inform the girl that he cannot continue financing their addiction without compensation. Because of the addiction, a person will try to find ways in which to finance and satisfy their dependence, and in many cases their dependence impairs their judgments, making these people more susceptible to becoming sex workers, and thus that addiction keeps them enslaved to the industry. [10] Moreover, although some sex workers begin work as a result of their addictions, some people turn to prostitution after drug addictions have ruined their lives, and left them with very few alternatives to support themselves otherwise. [10]

Factors associated with vulnerability

In a survey conducted and responded by male prostitutes, younger males performing sex work while using street drugs with a client are at the greatest risk of being attacked. [11] The use of drugs among prostitutes is very high. A study was conducted with 200 street prostitutes to determine when prostitutes first get involved with drugs. The results showed that 55% of the subjects reported becoming addicted to drugs before they became prostitutes, 30% reported becoming addicted after becoming a prostitute, and 15% became addicted at the same time they became a prostitute. [12] The study also revealed that the women's families often had alcohol and substance use throughout their lives. Substance use can lead someone towards prostitution and prostitution can lead someone to substance use. Prostitutes use many different drugs to help them deal with their problems. Marijuana is used to help relax, heroin is used to help increase emotional and physical stress tolerances, and cocaine and other stimulants are used to increase energy and confidence, so they are able to bring in more clients. [8] When prostitutes use drugs, they often become addicted and have to continue prostituting to continue funding their addiction.

There are some common factors between prostitutes who are involved with drug use. If they frequently have unprotected sex, if they are HIV/AIDS positive or have any other sexually acquired infections, if they have any mental health issues or have recently undergone mental health treatment if they are homeless, or if they suffered physical and sexual abuse in adulthood they are much more likely to develop a substance use disorder. [13] Drug users with multiple mental problems have higher rates of sharing injection needles with other people, lower rates of using condoms, having sex with multiple partners, sex trading, and having sex with an injecting drug user. Depression is also associated with drug use and prostitution. [3] There are also trapping factors: injecting any kind of substance into their body, using hard drugs such as crack cocaine or methamphetamine, taking part in sex work while underage, working outdoors or in multiple areas, and having any convictions. These factors "trap" a person into the life they are in, especially if multiple of the factors affect them, making it much harder for them to escape their situation. The people most vulnerable to prostitution are those that have experienced these factors. [7]

The way behavioral therapies are used

Behavioral therapies help patients change their initial attitudes and behaviors that are related to drug use. For example, patients should be aware of the severe consequences of drugs after the therapies. In addition, a successful behavioral therapy should also help patients build up a set of healthy habits and lifestyles, as guiding and educating them is also an essential component of behavioral therapy. What's more, for an effective behavioral treatment, it is important to pair it with proper medication. As behavioral treatment mainly cures the patients mentally, while medication cures the patients physically. They are dependent on each other and should be used towards the patients simultaneously. [14]

Some principles of effective treatment

Risk factors

People of any age, sex, or economic status can become addicted to a drug. However, certain factors can affect the likelihood and speed of developing an addiction:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substance abuse</span> Harmful use of drugs

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical, and criminal justice contexts. In some cases, criminal or anti-social behavior occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long-term personality changes in individuals may also occur. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, the use of some drugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harm reduction</span> Public health policies which lessen negative aspects of problematic activities

Harm reduction, or harm minimization, refers to a range of intentional practices and public health policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal. Harm reduction is used to decrease negative consequences of recreational drug use and sexual activity without requiring abstinence, recognizing that those unable or unwilling to stop can still make positive change to protect themselves and others.

Drug rehabilitation is the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and street drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The general intent is to enable the patient to confront substance dependence, if present, and stop substance misuse to avoid the psychological, legal, financial, social, and physical consequences that can be caused.

Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological conditions: for example headaches or fatigue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opioid use disorder</span> Medical condition

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a substance use disorder characterized by cravings for opioids, continued use despite physical and/or psychological deterioration, increased tolerance with use, and withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing opioids. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include nausea, muscle aches, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, agitation, and a low mood. Addiction and dependence are important components of opioid use disorder.

Substance dependence, also known as drug dependence, is a biopsychological situation whereby an individual's functionality is dependent on the necessitated re-consumption of a psychoactive substance because of an adaptive state that has developed within the individual from psychoactive substance consumption that results in the experience of withdrawal and that necessitates the re-consumption of the drug. A drug addiction, a distinct concept from substance dependence, is defined as compulsive, out-of-control drug use, despite negative consequences. An addictive drug is a drug which is both rewarding and reinforcing. ΔFosB, a gene transcription factor, is now known to be a critical component and common factor in the development of virtually all forms of behavioral and drug addictions, but not dependence.

According to proponents of the concept, sexual addiction, also known as sex addiction, is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The concept is contentious; neither of the two major mainstream medical categorization systems recognise sex addiction as a real medical condition, instead categorizing such behavior under labels such as compulsive sexual behavior.

Contingency management (CM) is the application of the three-term contingency, which uses stimulus control and consequences to change behavior. CM originally derived from the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA), but it is sometimes implemented from a cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) framework as well.

Sex and drugs date back to ancient humans and have been interlocked throughout human history. Both legal and illegal, the consumption of drugs and their effects on the human body encompasses all aspects of sex, including desire, performance, pleasure, conception, gestation, and disease.

An addictive behavior is a behavior, or a stimulus related to a behavior, that is both rewarding and reinforcing, and is associated with the development of an addiction. There are two main forms of addiction: substance use disorders and behavioral addiction. The parallels and distinctions between behavioral addictions and other compulsive behavior disorders like bulimia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are still being researched by behavioral scientists.

Dual diagnosis is the condition of having a mental illness and a comorbid substance use disorder. There is considerable debate surrounding the appropriateness of using a single category for a heterogeneous group of individuals with complex needs and a varied range of problems. The concept can be used broadly, for example depression and alcohol use disorder, or it can be restricted to specify severe mental illness and substance use disorder, or a person who has a milder mental illness and a drug dependency, such as panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder and is dependent on opioids. Diagnosing a primary psychiatric illness in people who use substances is challenging as substance use disorder itself often induces psychiatric symptoms, thus making it necessary to differentiate between substance induced and pre-existing mental illness.

Behavioral addiction, process addiction, or non-substance-related disorder is a form of addiction that involves a compulsion to engage in a rewarding non-substance-related behavior – sometimes called a natural reward – despite any negative consequences to the person's physical, mental, social or financial well-being. In the brain's reward system, a gene transcription factor known as ΔFosB has been identified as a necessary common factor involved in both behavioral and drug addictions, which are associated with the same set of neural adaptations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polysubstance dependence</span> Medical condition

Polysubstance dependence refers to a type of substance use disorder in which an individual uses at least three different classes of substances indiscriminately and does not have a favorite substance that qualifies for dependence on its own. Although any combination of three substances can be used, studies have shown that alcohol is commonly used with another substance. This is supported by one study on polysubstance use that separated participants who used multiple substances into groups based on their preferred substance. The results of a longitudinal study on substance use led the researchers to observe that excessively using or relying on one substance increased the probability of excessively using or relying on another substance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substance use disorder</span> Continual use of drugs (including alcohol) despite detrimental consequences

Substance use disorder (SUD) is the persistent use of drugs despite substantial harm and adverse consequences as a result of their use. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that "Substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can be moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUD". Substance use disorders (SUD) are considered to be a serious mental illness that fluctuates with the age that symptoms first start appearing in an individual, the time during which it exists and the type of substance that is used. It is not uncommon for those who have SUD to also have other mental health disorders. Substance use disorders are characterized by an array of mental/emotional, physical, and behavioral problems such as chronic guilt; an inability to reduce or stop consuming the substance(s) despite repeated attempts; operating vehicles while intoxicated; and physiological withdrawal symptoms. Drug classes that are commonly involved in SUD include: alcohol (alcoholism); cannabis; opioids; stimulants such as nicotine, cocaine and amphetamines; benzodiazepines; barbiturates; and other or unknown substances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addiction</span> Disorder resulting in compulsive behaviours

Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behaviour that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use often alters brain function in ways that perpetuate craving, and weakens self-control. This phenomenon – drugs reshaping brain function – has led to an understanding of addiction as a brain disorder with a complex variety of psychosocial as well as neurobiological factors that are implicated in addiction's development. Classic signs of addiction include compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, preoccupation with substances or behavior, and continued use despite negative consequences. Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification, coupled with delayed deleterious effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychoactive drug</span> Chemical substance that alters nervous system function

A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent, or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance that changes the function of the nervous system and results in alterations of perception, mood, cognition, and behavior. These substances may be used medically, recreationally, for spiritual reasons, or for research. Some categories of psychoactive drugs may be prescribed by physicians and other healthcare practitioners because of their therapeutic value.

About 1 in 7 Americans suffer from active addiction to a particular substance. Addiction can cause physical, psychological, and emotional harm to those who are affected by it. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as "a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual's life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences." In the world of psychology and medicine, there are two models that are commonly used in understanding the psychology behind addiction itself. One model is referred to as the disease model of addiction. The disease model suggests that addiction is a diagnosable disease similar to cancer or diabetes. This model attributes addiction to a chemical imbalance in an individual's brain that could be caused by genetics or environmental factors. The second model is the choice model of addiction, which holds that addiction is a result of voluntary actions rather than some dysfunction of the brain. Through this model, addiction is viewed as a choice and is studied through components of the brain such as reward, stress, and memory. Substance addictions relate to drugs, alcohol, and smoking. Process addictions relate to non-substance-related behaviors such as gambling, spending money, sexual activity, gaming, spending time on the internet, and eating.

Discrimination against drug addicts is a form of discrimination against people who suffer from a drug addiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prescription drug addiction</span> Medical condition

Prescription drug addiction is the chronic, repeated use of a prescription drug in ways other than prescribed for, including using someone else’s prescription. A prescription drug is a pharmaceutical drug that may not be dispensed without a legal medical prescription. Drugs in this category are supervised due to their potential for misuse and substance use disorder. The classes of medications most commonly abused are opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants and central nervous stimulants. In particular, prescription opioid is most commonly abused in the form of prescription analgesics.

There are about 220,000 women currently incarcerated in America. Over 30% of these women are convicted prostitutes. Much of the research on the sex industry in prisons focuses on the experiences of women because the number of jailed female sex workers greatly outnumbers men. Prominent issues that the criminal justice system and women who are incarcerated on prostitution charges currently face include the sexually transmitted infections and diseases epidemic, the sex-work-prison cycle, and the prison-to-sex-trafficking pipeline. Intervention and diversion programs, both within prisons and in traditional and specialty courts aim to address these issues, decrease recidivism, and provide these women with resources to assist them in exiting the sex trade. There are a variety of community-based organizations which seek to help resolve these concerns.

References

  1. 1 2 "Crime and Substance Abuse". DARA Thailand.
  2. ↑ Gossop, Michael; Powis, Beverly; Griffiths, Paul; Strang, John (1994). "Sexual behaviour and its relationship to drug-taking among prostitutes in south London". Addiction. 89 (8): 961–70. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb03356.x. PMID   7950854.
  3. 1 2 Gilchrist, Gail. "Drug users involved in prostitution: impact on health" (PDF). Public Health England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Fact and Fiction: Debunking Common Myths on Prostitution". English Collective of Prostitutes. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Ibid.
  6. ↑ Ibid.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cusick, Linda; Martin, Anthea; May, Tiggey (2003). "Vulnerability and involvement in drug use and sex work" (PDF). Home Office Research Study No. 268. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-12.
  8. 1 2 3 Flowers, Ronald (August 5, 2005). The Prostitution of Women and Girls. McFarland & Company. p. 62. ISBN   978-0-7864-2448-1. In the case of heroin, it may be used to adjust to a life which they resent, as it increases peoples ability to withstand emotional and physical stress. Cocaine and other stimulants have also been reported to increase the confidence of streetwalkers' abilities to talk to strangers and allow for these sex workers to maintain their energy levels. Moreover, New York call-girls consume alcohol as a means of protecting themselves from insults both physically and emotionally
  9. ↑ "The Link Between Drug Addiction and Sexual Addiction". Bradford Health. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Is There a Connection between Prostitution and Drug or Alcohol Addiction?". Addiction Help Center. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Jamel, Joanna (2011). "An Investigation of the Incidence of Client-Perpetrated Sexual Violence Against Male Sex Workers". International Journal of Sexual Health. 23: 63–78. doi:10.1080/19317611.2011.537958. S2CID   143617176.
  12. ↑ Silbert, Mimi H.; Pines, Ayala M.; Lynch, Teri (1982). "Substance Abuse and Prostitution". Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 14 (3): 193–7. doi:10.1080/02791072.1982.10471928. PMID   7143150.
  13. ↑ Gilchrist, Gail; Gruer, Laurence; Atkinson, Jacqueline (2005). "Comparison of drug use and psychiatric morbidity between prostitute and non-prostitute female drug users in Glasgow, Scotland" (PDF). Addictive Behaviors (Submitted manuscript). 30 (5): 1019–23. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.09.003. PMID   15893098.
  14. ↑ "When a Friend or Family Member is Prostituting for Drugs". luxury.rehabs.com. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  15. ↑ Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction" . Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  16. ↑ "Drug addiction Risk factors - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2016-12-06.

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