Typology of the Life and Work Styles of "Heroin-Prostitutes" (From Growing Up Good: Policing the Behavior of Girls in Europe, P 55-69, 1989, Maureen Cain, ed.)

• NCJ Number: 119752
• Author(s): M Blom; T van den Berg
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

Between November 1981 and September 1982, 59 heroin-using prostitutes in the "red-light" district of Amsterdam were interviewed to determine their characteristics and attitudes toward drug treatment.

Abstract

Five typologies were identified: the professional prostitute, the occasional prostitute, the romantic heroin user, the loyal heroin user, and the enlightened, romantic heroin user. The professional prostitute typically came from a lower-class background and entered prostitution through boyfriends. Heroin use arose either from the prostitution working environment or through boyfriends. So long as they could continue to earn a living as a prostitute, they saw no need for drug treatment. The occasional prostitute typically came from the lower middle class and used prostitution as a means of obtaining money when needed. Heroin use emerged through the prostitution subculture. Occasional prostitutes were particularly resistant to treatment because of their resistance to the image of themselves as heroin addicts. The romantic heroin users derived justification for heroin use and prostitution from a romantic and economic involvement with a man. Some of this group were willing to give drug treatment a try. Loyal heroin users entered heroin use and prostitution through a best friend, were generally sorry for having done so, were frequent users of treatment programs. The enlightened romantic heroin user received no satisfaction from either heroin use or prostitution as a structure for maintaining a romantic relationship. They typically did not seek treatment while living with a partner.