Of course they can. But will they? Will they bare the darkest regions of their soul for a friend?
Not a chance. People only seriously talk about that sort of thing when they are looking for absolution. Absolution is painful. If they are not ready to seek it, they will deny the need for it. If they have it, they won't run around talking about the subject anymore.
It is possible your friends got in and out of it before they got swept away, but it is highly doubtful they spent much time in it and are exaggerating for effect or are making it up altogether for attention.
Whatever....
The women I know were in it for one reason and one reason only, to get through college in a normal amount of time beholden to no one for it.
I will admit that I don't make it a habit to go, I don't go at all, to strip clubs or topless bars so I don't know hundreds or thousands of strippers.
I don't doubt that there are strippers out there that are exactly like you describe.
You DO seem to doubt that there are any strippers out there like I describe.
My experience versus your reading. I'll take my experience, with these particular women, over your reading.