Prevalence & Factors Associated with Sex Trading in the Year Prior to Entering Treatment for Drug Misuse in England

This study estimates the past year prevalence of and factors associated with sex trading (offering sex for money, drugs or something else) among 1796 men and women presenting to 342 drug misuse treatment agencies in England, and identifies service development and delivery implications.

The estimated prevalence rate of sex trading in the past 12 months was 5.1% (15.0% for women and 2.1% for men). For women, adjusted models identified crack use, previous treatment and greater readiness for treatment as independently associated with sex trading. For men, lower mental wellbeing was independently associated and marginal effects were identified for syringe sharing and unprotected sex.

Sex trading among drug misusers is associated with additional health risks and specific treatment needs. Given the scale of the problem it is important that treatment providers have the competencies to adequately address the issue and provide accessible and appropriate services.

Via: http://ht.ly/S9Kbs 

By: Gilchrist G1, Singleton N2, Donmall M3, Jones A4.

• 1King's College London, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8BB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: gail.gilchrist@kcl.ac.uk.
• 2King's College London, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8BB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Nicola.Singleton@kcl.ac.uk.
• 3National Drug Evidence Centre, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, 4th Floor, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: M.Donmall@manchester.ac.uk.
• 4National Drug Evidence Centre, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, 4th Floor, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom