A comparative analysis of the different legislative controls relating to sex work and drug use in The Netherlands and Ireland

The purpose of this chapter is to explore drug use among sex workers in theNetherlands and Ireland and to examine why sex workers relationship to drug use differsin the two countries. Sex workers are considered an at 'risk group' in society, and arethus more likely to become involved in problematic drug use. The environmental, socialand structural factors were also analysed to compare sex workers involvement in the sexwork industry in both the Netherlands an Ireland. The wider socioeconomic factors, suchas poverty, homelessness, employment prospects, educational attainment and their accessto health and social services will also be discussed. This chapter will provide a detailedanalysis of the nature of drug use and how it serves to socially discriminate the subcultureof sex work in the Netherlands and Ireland.