Anti-Poverty Information Centre, Anti-Poverty Information Centre, BulgariaBulgaria

PROSTITUTION AND PROSTITUTION AND DRUGS – DRUGS –

UNKNOWN RISKS UNKNOWN RISKS

AND FAILED SOCIAL AND FAILED SOCIAL CHOICECHOICE

(The case of Bulgaria)(The case of Bulgaria)

First ApproximationFirst Approximation

• Approximately between 9 and Approximately between 9 and 20% of the prostituting 20% of the prostituting individuals use drugs individuals use drugs

• Compared with the % of drug Compared with the % of drug users in the general population – users in the general population – between 1,99% – 3,18%, we between 1,99% – 3,18%, we receive 5 to 10 times higher receive 5 to 10 times higher share of drug users amongst the share of drug users amongst the prostituting personsprostituting persons

EstimatesEstimates

•According to the interviews, According to the interviews, now the most common drugs now the most common drugs are cocaine and are cocaine and amphetamines, “out of 10 amphetamines, “out of 10 prostitutes 9 are on cocaine prostitutes 9 are on cocaine and amphetamines, 3 are on and amphetamines, 3 are on heroin and 1 doesn’t do drugs” heroin and 1 doesn’t do drugs”

•Seems to be exaggeratedSeems to be exaggerated

Dynamics of the liaisons Dynamics of the liaisons between prostitution and between prostitution and

drugsdrugs• Transition from prostitution to Transition from prostitution to

drug addiction drug addiction • Transition from drug addiction to Transition from drug addiction to

prostitution.prostitution. • Both transitions are almost Both transitions are almost

equally distributed which means equally distributed which means strong link – an individual being strong link – an individual being in one of the states most probably in one of the states most probably will fall in the other as well.will fall in the other as well.

““Fireplace” - DistributorFireplace” - Distributor

•Supply to people from their Supply to people from their close surroundings: close surroundings:

•““She can sell drugs while She can sell drugs while she’s in the street, and, yes, she’s in the street, and, yes, she does that – selling to she does that – selling to clients and to other people clients and to other people – friends, colleagues…”– friends, colleagues…”

‘‘Mechanism’ of the Mechanism’ of the connection between connection between

prostitution and drugsprostitution and drugs •The well known generators The well known generators

for drug addictionfor drug addiction•The well known reasons The well known reasons

for becoming a prostitutefor becoming a prostitute•Synergies between two Synergies between two

states states

Mental health Mental health

• the connection between the connection between prostitution and drug abuse prostitution and drug abuse ‘passes’ through the mind or the ‘passes’ through the mind or the psyche of the individual, through psyche of the individual, through his mental health; his mental health;

• mental problems pushing the mental problems pushing the ‘transitions’ – going from one‘transitions’ – going from one state of the individual to state of the individual to another. another.

Mental Health (cont.)Mental Health (cont.)• A survey on the mental status of prostitutes of different A survey on the mental status of prostitutes of different

nationalities in Zurichnationalities in Zurich, , reports a high level of mental reports a high level of mental disorders among the interviewed persons: a high level of disorders among the interviewed persons: a high level of mental pressure. The level of depressive and anxiety mental pressure. The level of depressive and anxiety disorders in the surveyed group is higher compared to the disorders in the surveyed group is higher compared to the general populationgeneral population

• The survey of 46 prostitutes in South Korea reported a The survey of 46 prostitutes in South Korea reported a peculiar type of mental disorder – extreme stress with peculiar type of mental disorder – extreme stress with prostitutes, especially those having suffered from sexual prostitutes, especially those having suffered from sexual abuse in their childhood. abuse in their childhood.

• The idea of the universal character of damage to the mental The idea of the universal character of damage to the mental health of prostituting individuals is also substantiated by health of prostituting individuals is also substantiated by another research involving 5 countries– South Africa, another research involving 5 countries– South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Zambia. 67% of all respondents Thailand, Turkey, USA, Zambia. 67% of all respondents match the criteria of posttraumatic stress disordermatch the criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder

Questioning the link with Questioning the link with mental healthmental health

• Some researchers contest the negative Some researchers contest the negative impact of prostitution on mental healthimpact of prostitution on mental health

• However, the lack of data about However, the lack of data about deteriorated mental health of prostitutes deteriorated mental health of prostitutes does not mean that their mental health is does not mean that their mental health is not in any serious danger; not in any serious danger;

• Because of the specifics of these surveys, Because of the specifics of these surveys, their results would have been more their results would have been more reliable if the surveys were longitudinal, reliable if the surveys were longitudinal, covering a well selected group of one and covering a well selected group of one and the same individuals, and scheduled at the same individuals, and scheduled at carefully planned definite time intervals.carefully planned definite time intervals.

• high levels of stress have different high levels of stress have different effect on the mind of different effect on the mind of different individuals. We should not be individuals. We should not be surprised then that there are surprised then that there are different views about the influence different views about the influence of sex work on mental health – the of sex work on mental health – the elusive mechanism of stress, and elusive mechanism of stress, and what’s more, the continual high what’s more, the continual high stress condition, is an essential part stress condition, is an essential part of the way prostitution affects the of the way prostitution affects the mental health, and this essential mental health, and this essential part is poorly known. part is poorly known.

The survey in Bulgaria The survey in Bulgaria

• does not allow discussing problems of does not allow discussing problems of psychological and psychiatric naturepsychological and psychiatric nature

• the survey team was equipped with a the survey team was equipped with a psychologist. She observed closely the psychologist. She observed closely the persons interviewed and was asked to persons interviewed and was asked to make a general evaluation of the make a general evaluation of the psychological status of each person after psychological status of each person after the interview. We do not attribute any the interview. We do not attribute any special importance to these evaluations, special importance to these evaluations, but we will nevertheless mention they but we will nevertheless mention they show that over 70% of the respondents show that over 70% of the respondents display symptoms of deteriorated mental display symptoms of deteriorated mental health.health.

Risks, stress and mental Risks, stress and mental healthhealth

• Some surveys are trying to expand the Some surveys are trying to expand the range of risks adding physical range of risks adding physical violence (73% reported victims), rape violence (73% reported victims), rape while prostituting (62% reported while prostituting (62% reported victims), physical assault (73% victims), physical assault (73% reported victims)reported victims)

• Stress factorsStress factors – – Negative moral value Negative moral value judgments; isolation; stigmatization judgments; isolation; stigmatization (stigma on drug abuse is stronger (stigma on drug abuse is stronger than the stigma on prostitution).than the stigma on prostitution).

ORGANIZATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVEPERSPECTIVE

• criminal groups operating in criminal groups operating in the prostitution or in the the prostitution or in the drug sector can incidentally, drug sector can incidentally, in certain cases go from one in certain cases go from one kind of activity to another or kind of activity to another or combine the two kinds of combine the two kinds of activities.activities.

SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVE

•Fueling organized crime Fueling organized crime •Impact on public Impact on public

institutions institutions •Impact on the economy Impact on the economy •Impact on the rights and Impact on the rights and

life of those practicing life of those practicing prostitution prostitution

Oppression Paradigm Oppression Paradigm Versus Polymorphous Versus Polymorphous

ParadigmParadigm• Sexual services and Sexual services and

performances - inherently performances - inherently oppressive, exploitative and oppressive, exploitative and universally harmful.universally harmful.

• ““Normal business” (“sex Normal business” (“sex work”, “sex industry”) and work”, “sex industry”) and the objective is to the objective is to decriminalize this industry,decriminalize this industry,

Monitoring the Monitoring the ParadigmsParadigms

• Oppressive paradigm – valid Oppressive paradigm – valid arguments – wrong conclusion: arguments – wrong conclusion: prohibition, underestimating the prohibition, underestimating the consequences of the prohibition consequences of the prohibition (illegal practices and risks connected (illegal practices and risks connected with them);with them);

• Polymorphous paradigm Polymorphous paradigm – – invalid invalid arguments –correct aim: however not arguments –correct aim: however not simply legalizingsimply legalizing

• Adequate normative regulationAdequate normative regulation

Impact of power centers on Impact of power centers on research and knowledgeresearch and knowledge

• The supporters of the polymorphous The supporters of the polymorphous paradigm in investigating paradigm in investigating prostitution have noticed that prostitution have noticed that definite centers of power not only definite centers of power not only adopt the prohibitionist paradigmadopt the prohibitionist paradigm, , but they also influence scientific but they also influence scientific research by promoting studies research by promoting studies within the course of the oppressive within the course of the oppressive paradigmparadigm

Normative FrameworkNormative Framework

EFFECTS OF PROHIBITIONIST LEGISLATION – CREATION OF “INVISIBLE” SOCIAL PATHOLOGIES AND UNKNOWN RISKS