Vulnerability and involvement in drug use and ... - Sex Work Europe

6 Services
Access to information and services
Drug service contact
Fifty-four per cent (n=32) of participants with a current drug problem reported using a drug
service in the six months prior to interview. Among participants with a current drug problem,
half (n=14; 48%) of those aged 24 years or younger at interview re p o rted contact with
drug services in the last six months, compared with 60 per cent (n=18) of those aged 25
years or older. This association was not statistically significant. Table 6.1 shows the extent to
which drug services are in contact with problematic drug users working in each sector. This
suggests that drug services are not reaching many of those with drug problems in the
outdoor sector, which has the clearest associations with drug use.
Table 6.1: Contact with drug services in the last 6 months by main sex work sector
(N=59)
Sex work sector In contact with a Not in contact with a
drug service drug service
% No. % No.
Outdoors 58 25 42 18
Independent drifter 80 4 20 1
Independent entrepreneur 0 0 100 1
Indoor associated 25 1 75 3
Not currently working 33 2 67 4
Sex work service contact
Given that 70 per cent of participants were recruited through services for sex workers, it is
d i fficult to draw any conclusions about the levels of penetration of these services to the
wider population of sex workers. Findings reported in this section should be considered in
this light.
Seventy-five per cent (n=71) of participants who were still selling sex at the time of interview
reported using a service for sex workers in the six months prior to interview.
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