Barriers to Effective Drug Addiction Treatment for Women Involved in Street-Level Prostitution: A Qualitative Investigation

• NCJ Number: 219797
• Journal: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 163-170
• Author(s): Frances M. Smith; Lisa A. Marshall
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study identified barriers to effective drug treatment for women involved in street-level prostitution in Glasgow, Scotland.

Abstract

One of the barriers to drug treatment identified was the women's low sense of self-worth, which translated into feeling that they were no better than the life they were living as drug-addicted prostitutes. A commitment to drug treatment requires the belief and the vision that one deserves and can achieve a better life for herself/himself. Apparently, many of the women had internalized the negative stereotypes of drug addicts and prostitutes held by society, such that they perceived this as their fixed, unchangeable identity. For the women who did enter drug treatment, they responded best to a relationship-based approach with an individual whom they perceived to be reliable and trustworthy; however, this study found that the drug treatment regimen for the women lacked ongoing support from a trusted individual, which was a major factor in their leaving treatment prior to completion. The study also found that providing drug treatment separately to drug-addicted women and their addicted partners was ineffective. By engaging the woman and her partner in treatment together, their competing needs and any control or power issues can be addressed. Current drug treatment services, however, are not capable of treating drug-addicted couples. Current services could be improved by addressing these barriers to effective drug treatment. Efforts should also be mounted to change the public's and the media's negative stereotyping of drug-addicted prostitutes, so they can be seen as fellow human beings who deserve help in dealing with their multiple needs. Indepth interviews were conducted with women who were involved in street-level prostitution. Transcripts of the one-to-one interviews were analyzed for recurrent themes, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. 17 references