Drug use and sexual abuse
Research, exchange of good practice, training to prevent violence on drug addicts women

Period of implementation: 1.05.2007 - 30.04.2009
Leading organization: IL PIOPPO ONLUS - Italy
Source of funding: DAPHNE Programme II 2004 - 2008 of the European Commission
Partners: Centre for Addictology - Medical University of Prague, Czech Republic; PYXIDA Drug Abuse Prevention Center, Greece; Forensic Laboratory Services - Malta National Laboratory, Malta; Association “Training and Services Center”, Bulgaria; European Consulting and Training Association, Italy.
Main aim: The project aims to contribute for the decrease of the sexual violence against drug addicted women, by awareness raising of the topic, collecting data, research and information concerning the connection between the drug use and the sexual abuse, promoting and exchange of good practices and experience in prevention work in regard to the drug abusers and support to the victims; designing and testing of educational materials which are going to be used by social workers, working on violence prevention on drug addict women.
Expected results:
- Existing data, research, studies and carrying out of interviews with 150 drug addict women and 40 scientists, social workers, specialists in psych-social trauma, law enforcement officers will be carried to analyse links between drug use and violence;
- On the questionnaire bases sent towards 60 professional institutions in the countries of partner organizations countries a review about their practice, experience and suggestions will be implemented in regard to the coordination and cooperation between addiction aid and the protection against sexual violence;
- A web-based community for exchange of information, good practices and materials will be established;
- An awareness campaign will be carried out among drug users in the city of Naples and the cities of the partner organizations. The educational packages of the instrument for violence prevention will be tested among the risk groups;
- Counseling meeting will be held also leaflet and other info materials will distributed about 300 women with drug problems, living without shelter (homeless) or staying in prison or in disadvantage families;
- Four seminars will be carried out aiming to train 40 social and health workers, teachers, law enforcement officers on the theme how to recognize and prevent violence on drug addicted women. An Program for education of people from the same group will be also developed.