Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 Source: Irish Times Contact: Male prostitution study shows link with drugs 'Guys go on heroin, then on the game' The typical male prostitute gets involved for the money. "The guys I was hanging around with were working the Park . . . one day I was broke . . . it didn't mean anything except cash" is representative of comments from 27 males prostitutes surveyed. Another response was: "When homeless, there is no other way on the street." Four (15 per cent) of the boys surveyed were introduced to prostitution when aged 13, but most were in the 14to19 age bracket. Many young boys who have been sexually abused as children "drift easily into being paid for sexual favours", while there are very few opportunities for gay teenagers to explore their sexuality. Some explain their involvement on the basis of "being approved of" and "the idea that someone wanted you; the money came after". When asked to describe their activities, a more graphic picture emerges on how this impacts their lives. One said: "Abusive, dangerous, degrading, exciting, lonely, isolating, shame, secret." On drugtaking, another said: "Guys go on heroin and then on the game to feed their habit." With 40 per cent not identifying themselves as gay, sexuality is another issue highlighted by the study. Some were "unsure or fearful of identifying as gay, with many not socialising in gay venues, aware of society's attitude to gays". Half said they currently had a partner. Nine out of 13 partners were male. Most male partners knew of the prostitution. In three cases, partners did not know all were women. The Gay Men's Health Project was set up by the Eastern Health Board in 1992 following a study of sexualrisk behaviour among gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men. It has a "dropin" clinic at Haddington Road, Dublin, which is staffed by doctors, nurses and counsellors who specialise in counselling on sexuality and safe sex. © Copyright: The Irish Times