Intersectionality: sex workers who use drugs

In this video you will hear Natasha Potvin talking about the intersectionality of sex work and drug use and the tremendous double stigma that this can cause.

In the previous video, Palani Narayana expended on the horrific stigma that people who use drugs are exposed to. He explained that drug users are often seen as the scum of society and that stigma pushes people to the fringes of society. Stigma is an unfortunate reality for many other communities, including for sex workers.

Natasha Potvin shares her personal story of living through the double stigma of being part of the sex worker community and the community of people who use drugs.

The second topic of this week ‘The public health dimension of drug use and harm reduction’ will further expand on the notion that stigma is often a far greater health threat than the drugs itself.

Note; This course approaches the topic of sexwork only from the perspective of the intersectionality with druguse. However it is important to note that the same principles and interventions of harm reduction are applicable to other communities, such as sexworker, men who have sex with men and other ‘key populations’. Harm Reduction is not exclusive to drug use.

Optional

Below you can find a report from Harm Reduction international: “When sex work and drug use overlap” (or follow this link). We highly recommend you read the compelling foreword by Pye Jakobsson on page 7.