HARM REDUCTION TOOLS

Sex trade workers addicted to crack and other hard drugs have an even
tougher time on the streets keeping themselves safe, says Prince
George New Hope Society coordinator Cristal Capostinsky.

The local distribution of a free Safer Crack Kit may become part of
their very survival, she said. Samples of the kit were on hand at the
International Women's Day event held at Artspace last week.

"I've been attending conferences across Canada for HIV-AIDS awareness
and sexual exploitation and I noticed they had safer crack kits. So I
decided to bring them here and try to help the women who are at risk
in this city. We see it as a harm reduction tool because people who
are using crack are going to continue using. It's never safe, we just
want to make it safer. It's like there's really no such thing as safe
sex but you can make it safer."

The kit contains a lighter, scrubbing pad, mouthpiece, chopstick, gum
and condoms.

"Users share pipes with each other but at least with the kit, they
have their own, clean mouthpieces. We include new 'brillo' pads so
they don't use dirty old ones they find in alleys or in people's
houses with cleaning products on them. This way, the pads are
pristine. The gum is just a bonus, users get dry mouth," she explained.

The condoms?

"People who smoke crack often end up having sex," she said.

The sex trade industry includes high-priced call girls working out of
their homes, phone and internet liaisons and some escort services, she says.

Women (and men) who work the streets as prostitutes make up only
about 10 per cent of the work force, she said. However, it is this
segment that is most at risk.

They were the target group for help when the Prince George New Hope
Society opened its doors 18 months ago. In the past year, more than
100 women have used their services.

"We have an outreach program on Friday nights where they can just
come and talk or get information. When a sex trade worker is addicted
[to drugs] they often don't see the choices open to them. At New Hope
Society, we try to help them with education, support, advocacy and
counselling services so they can be informed. We are just there for
them if they need us," said Capostinsky.

Street sex trade workers often use hard drugs as a form of escape
from the harsh reality of selling their bodies for survival, she says.

"Most of the girls have to be high to do that kind of work. They're
having sex with strangers for money. It's survival sex and it can be
very dangerous. They're doing it in most cases for basic things like
food, shelter and clothing. Some of their dates are "dope dates,"
guys that want to get high and have sex. The sex worker doesn't know
if they're going to get violent or assault them or what is going to
happen and when you're high and working, you can't trust your own instincts."

The safer crack kits will help, but Capostinsky concedes they are not
the only answer to keeping street sex trade workers safe.