Prostitution:

Women had difficulties finding work and decided to turn to prostitution (offers sexual activity for exchange of money). Some worked in brothels (a house where prostitutes work), while others walked the streets and were vulnerable to sexual assault. Prostitution was not illegal, however, it was a social difficulty that police monitored. Many women at this time also conceived and underwent an abortion, which were often performed in conditions that led to the death of a woman.

Alcohol:

Many people turned to alcohol due to the desperate social and economic conditions in Whitechapel. Strong alcoholic beverages were affordable to the poorest and pubs were at every corner. In one mile of road in Whitechapel, there was almost 45 buildings serving as pubs or gin palaces. Moreover, there was also opium dens (a location where opium was sold and smoked). Drunkenness often led to violence and alcoholics would turn to crime to obtain more money for drink.