Sex Workers in Crisis

1
Sex Workers in Crisis

• Drug Use out of Control
• Jim McMahon
• Turning Point Scotland
• The Links Project

2
Turning Point Scotland

• Tackles Social exclusion by providing
  customised community care packages for people who
  have been excluded as a result of their mental
  health, learning disability, homelessness or
  their drug or alcohol misuse.

3
Residential Services

• Glasgow Drug Crisis Centre (GDCC)
• offers short term detoxification,
  rehabilitation, stabilisation and a needle
  exchange.
• Time out at 218 Glasgow
• A new service for women offenders which helps
  them address the root cause of their offending.
• The Links Project Edinburgh
• A short stay residential centre for adults over
  16 years with serious drug problems

4
The Links Project

• How do we define ourselves?
• The Links Project is a residential service that
  helps people experiencing drug related life
  crisis to achieve their goals.
• Crisis?
• A crucial stage or turning point or a time of
  extreme trouble or danger.
• - Collins Dictionary

5
What Do We Do?

• We are a harm reduction service
• We assess people for residential care
• We coordinate drug management
• We offer a structured programme of support to
  meet individual needs
• We admit people according to priority of need.

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Priority of Need?

• Mental Health
• Physical Health
• Housing Status
• Emotional Wellbeing
• Recent Trauma
• Drug use
• Contact with services and community support

7
Services We Offer

• Detoxification, stabilisation or reduction of
  drug use
• Respite Service
• Support Plan
• Individual Support - Keyworker
• Groupwork
• A place of care and safety

8
Statistics

• 2004/2005
• 204 Admissions
• 143 Male 70
• 61 Female 30
• Between August 04 and July 05
• 31 Females admitted
• 10 Indicated use of sex industry to fund
• drug habit ( 30)
• 0 Males indicated use of sex industry to
  fund
• drug habit

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Opportunities to Discover!

• Safety
• Help/Support
• Medication
• Sanctuary
• Relapse Tools
• Structure
• Space to work through Issues
• Sign Posting to other services

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Opportunities to Rediscover

• Structure in your life
• Dignity/self worth
• Choice
• Trust
• Encouragement/Empowerment
• Compassion
• To be Heard

11
Barriers to Women in Sex Industry Accessing
Residential Services!

• Child Care Issues/fears
• Stigmatisation
• Fear of Partner
• Lack of women orientated services
• Lack of trust in confidentiality procedures

12
Challenges?

• Safety of Women within mixed gender Residential
  setting
• Women's safety group
• Relationships ?
• Staff Training
• Supervision
• Lack of Privacy
• Partnership with other Agencies (e.g., Scot - Pep)

13
Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh

• Review of Drug Services in Edinburgh identified
  Priority Groups
• Alcohol
• Young People
• Families
• Pregnant alcohol and drug users
• Co- Morbidity
• Disengaged and Vulnerable groups

14
Comment from Service User!

• My stay at the Links has changed my drug use big
  time. I cant believe it. I learnt you can be a
  better person if you stay away from drugs. I
  learnt that I am strong enough to do this. I
  gained confidence, skills for looking after
  myself like cooking and hygiene and self respect
  from coming into the Links. This place has really
  saved my life. Before I came here I couldn't
  handle it, now I know there are people who care.