What We Need, Not What We’re Given: Recommendations for Action From Young Sex Workers Who Use Drugs

Marie Schneider, Josephine Achieng, Rebeca Calzada Olvera, et al. – 12 January 2026

What We Need, Not What We’re Given: Recommendations for Action From Young Sex Workers Who Use Drugs

Young sex workers who use drugs face compounded criminalization and stigma that heighten their exposure to violence and limit access to health, social, and harm reduction services. A global Youth RISE working group highlights the importance of peer-led, youth-focused services, decriminalization, and meaningful engagement of young sex workers who use drugs in policy, service design, and research to uphold their agency, reduce harm, and address structural inequities.

 

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