88 percent of female drug addicts sexually abused

New research has found that 88 percent of female drug addicts were sexually abused.

The research, on sexual abuse on female drug addicts, was presented during a seminar this morning.

Opening the seminar, Social Policy Minister John Dalli found that 53 percent of the sexually abused drug addicts were abused in childhood, 37 percent in adolescence and 10 percent in adulthood. The study found that 57 percent were abused in the home and in a social setting.

50 percent were abused while taking drugs and 37 percent before and during their drug taking. In 90 percent of the cases sex abuse continued. 90 percent sought help for their drug problem but not for the sexual abuse.

The research was based on interviews with professionals. All professionals interviewed said that in the cases they encountered there was interrelation between sexual and drug abuse.

They said that in 80 percent of the cases sex was traded for drugs at some point or there was prostitution involved.

The report found that female drug addicts suffer more than their male counterparts when it comes to sexual abuse, with the vast majority being victims of it.

"What is even worse and most concerning is that female drug addicts "normalise" this abuse and it only dawns on them at a much later stage that it is unacceptable," said psychotherapist Mariella Dimech, one of the study's authors.

She worked on the study together with forensic pharmacist Mario Mifsud, senior probation officer Mariella Camilleri and Sedqa social worker Vicky Scicluna.

"Unfortunately, an extremely low percentage of these women report and seek help for sexual abuse and rape," Ms Dimech continued.

Agencies like Appoġġ, which deal with such violence, do not receive any female drug addicts. It is too humiliating and shameful for them to talk about sexual abuse. "Drug addiction is a bigger taboo for women than it is for men, making it an even bigger taboo for them to seek help. When they finally do, they do not even mention the abuse," Ms Dimech said.

Because they had such a low self-esteem, they easily let themselves be used as sexual objects, Ms Dimech said. Being sexually abused while taking drugs was particularly worrying because it meant these women were even more at risk and the ripple effects were vast, she pointed out.

She believed the situation to be a "serious" problem. But now that it had been scientifically proven, a way forward could be sought.

"Let's not fool ourselves that the situation is under control in Malta. We are no different from the rest of the world," Ms Dimech said, highlighting the similarities in the findings.

"You would think that Malta, being such a small country and having a Christian background and strong family values, would be an exception. We tend not to be aware of the serious social problems that exist in this country, which are on similar levels as Europe."