Franica Pulis
Female drug abuse is mainly linked with the abuse of children and adolescents, a study presented yesterday revealed, at a MaltaToday conference on the prevention of violence on female drug addicts.
According to the research carried out by senior probation officer Mariella Camilleri and drugs community worker Vicky Scicluna, 30 out of 34 (88%) female drug abusers had been sexually abused during one point in life. Of this, 53% were children and 37% were adolescents when they suffered the abuse. The abuse occurred mainly at home.
Pscychotherapist Mariella Dimech said girls of a certain age, or those who have experienced a situation of discomfort in their family, were the most vulnerable to drug addiction. She also mentioned cases of girls whose model of identification with their mothers failed because of a mother who submits to an authoritarian or violent husband, or an aggressive, withdrawn mother.
Dimech also expressed regret at the way data was being collected in Malta. “If we don’t collect data in the right way, we’ll keep on speaking on generic statements of a moralistic or ideological nature and assume what might be the best solutions.”
The study itself had to be a qualitative research study since this was carried out with just 34 drug abusers and 10 professionals, with only two of the professionals specialising in this field.
“Today the only answer that can be given out is that drug abusers have experienced some form of abuse during their life whether it is neglect, physical or sexual abuse,” Dimech said.
Dr Anna Maria Vella, a doctor specialising in women’s health, gave out three cases she had encountered professionally of how women may end up in prostitution: a violent partner who is a drug addict and is also her pimp, the prospect of easy money, and maintaining the shift from light drugs to harder substance abuse.
“Harsh laws will only make prostitutes hide. It will not stop the activity,” Vella said, who spoke of her wish to open a clinic in the notorious red light area in Testaferrata Street in Gzira to be as available as possible to the women prostituting in that area.
This could not be done, she said, and the clinic had to be opened elsewhere. However, she stated her clinic is only reached by those who come to her services. “Sex workers have been left in the shadow for too long,” adding that prevention was the best policy and young people should be supported in order not to reach this downfall.
“Women take drugs with more determination than men and they’ll regress in their abuse at a faster pace,” explained Vella.
Females also depend on males to supply their drugs, to have them prepared and also injected. Therefore, the study’s authors said, they have to pay back in some way or another. This may buying their share of drugs or sexual favours.
Vella also said that of the times prostitutes use condoms with their clients but not while they are not ‘working’ or doing favours to their friends or pimps.
But she said the minute drugs disappear from a woman’s life, prostitution will disappear as well.
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