NCJ Number
154263
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1992) Pages: 349-361
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Data from field studies of female drug use and prostitution in New York City and other cities in the mid-1970's and Chicago in the late 1980's to early 1990's are used to indicate the relationship between drugs and prostitution and to compare the contemporary crack-prostitution situation to previous prostitution situations.
Abstract
The analysis suggested that the arrival of crack cocaine has affected the drugs-prostitution connection both directly and indirectly. It has lowered the price of sex for street prostitutes, changed the social status of cocaine, and increased the level of social disorganization in prostitution and other illegal street activities. The analysis also indicates that those who barter sex for crack are the heaviest drug users, use the greatest variety of drugs, use larger amounts of drugs, and use drugs more frequently than others. The accounts given by crack- using women also do not support the view that they are helpless slaves to their crack use. While many female crack users choose to barter sex for crack, others do not. In addition, the women who barter sex for drugs are also engaging in traditional prostitution for cash. Tables, excerpts from interviews, and 36 references (Author abstract modified)