Cycles of harm: Problematic alcohol use amongst women involved in prostitution

Research by Eaves and London South Bank University, Breaking down the barriers (Bindel, Brown, Easton, Matthews and Reynolds, forthcoming), identified problematic drug and/or alcohol use as the most common barrier (obstacle) faced by women exiting prostitution. Following the completion of this study, Eaves obtained funding from Alcohol Research UK to explore this barrier in greater depth, focusing specifically on problematic alcohol use.

This new research aimed to:

•     Look at why and when women involved in prostitution use alcohol problematically
•     Explore and compare the ways in which women involved in different aspects of the sex industry use alcohol
•     Explore the different ways in which women use alcohol and how this relates to their involvement in prostitution and impacts on exiting
•     Enable practitioners working with women involved in prostitution who have problematic alcohol use to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the two, thereby informing more effective interventions.

The research took a mixed methodological approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The main focus of the study was nine interviews with women who were currently or formerly involved in prostitution who had current or past problematic alcohol use. Seven interviews were also undertaken with eight practitioners working in the drugs and alcohol fields and in services supporting women involved in prostitution. Given the small scale and short time frame of the project, the majority of interviews with women and stakeholders were confined to London. An online survey was also distributed to a range of organisations and services that may come into contact with women involved in prostitution. The survey was distributed across England and Wales, extending the geographical scope of the study.