DRUG AND CHILD PROSTITUTION LINK
Children as young as 12 are turning to prostitution to finance drug habits according to a recent survey in Melbourne.
The children were introduced to drugs and sex work after they became street kids in St. Kilda and inner Melbourne.
The survey consisted of an in depth interview of 30 young people, 21 females and 9 males already involved in prostitution.
Most of the young people started prostitution at about age 16 with 4 commencing at age 12.
The report estimates that there are 4,000 children and teenagers involved in prostitution around Australia.
One of the recommendations is that there be pathway program to break the cycle of drugs and prostitution.
(Source: The Australian 14/10/04)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
The link between drug dependence and underage prostitution has been established in other reports.
The drug link has particularly been established in street prostitutes.
Australia has international obligations under the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Drugs to reduce drug use.
The International Narcotics Control Board recommends that courts be used to divert illicit drug users into detoxification and rehabilitation.
The recommended pathways program to break the cycle of drugs and prostitution should bring children out of drug use completely and having eliminated the need for drug money out of the sex trade as well.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
41/2004