Powerlessness and HIV prevention among people who trade sex for drugs ('strawberries')

Researchers and members of the drug culture have employed the term 'strawberries' to describe African American women who trade sex for drugs. Data from six US cities participating in a community-based drug research project were analysed to examine the determinants of trading sex for drugs. As shown by our data, some African American women match the street description commonly attributed to 'strawberries'. However, our results also show that trading sexual favours for drugs is not limited to African American women, nor solely to women. Rather, trading sex for drugs is an economic behaviour that occurs among women and men of any race/ethnicity who use crack cocaine. Trading sex for drugs is closely related to conditions of poverty and homelessness, conditions that especially affect many crack smokers. The discussion urges educators and researchers to be alert for 'strawberry behaviours' exhibited by drug-users of any racial/ethnic background or gender.