Is There Trafficking in Your Neighborhood?

Human trafficking is a lucrative, tax-free global business. Traffickers recruit innocent people into the sex, labor, or domestic industries. Young men and boys are recruited into the fishing and mining industries; younger boys may work in pornography. Families, men, women, and young children harvest crops. Women are recruited into the hospitality and sex industries. Although victims of trafficking work in public settings, their identities are hidden. They are abused and fearful for personal and family safety. Victims of trafficking feel trapped, injured, confined, and are deprived of papers and belongings. The person who is trafficked works hard under dangerous and difficult conditions. However, traffickers, large organizations, and cartels profit. Persons who are trafficked have poor health and suffer from anxiety, depression, addiction, injuries, and illness. During the pandemic, few had access to testing, vaccines, or treatment. Most Americans know little about trafficking and think it only occurs in third world countries. In fact, it occurs in many places across the United States. It is difficult for the person who is trafficked to escape their situation for a myriad of reasons. Nurses can help raise awareness of human trafficking and work collaboratively within the public and private sector to eradicate it.