Human sex trafficking is a serious problem both domestically and internationally, and more education is needed to address the risk factors and the physical and mental health issues that arise for victims in the sex trade, according to a new series by the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State University.
According to “Human Sex Trafficking: An Overview,” the prevalence of sex trafficking victims vary widely. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across the globe annually, with 70 percent forced into the sex trade. In 2004, The Department of State suggested that 14,500 to 17,500 people are brought into the U.S. annually from countries such as the Ukraine, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mexico for prostitution.
In the U.S., there are about 100,000 children who are sexually exploited by forced prostitute, many of them entering the sex trade between 12 and 14 years old, with some as young as five years old. Once these children reach adulthood, they face many barriers to getting out, including violence and control by traffickers, limited options for paid labor, negative perceptions of prostitutes, and mental and physical health issues.
“This is an issue that is a problem and people are not aware of it,” said Dr. Cortney Franklin, who is the guest editor on the Human Trafficking Series. “This is an opportunity to raise awareness.”
Dr. Cortney FranklinThe most common risk factors for becoming involved in forced prostitution are youthful age, family dysfunction, child sexual and physical abuse, child neglect, and homelessness. Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorders, as well as runaways, also contribute to the issue.
“Research has consistently found that sex traffickers prey on homeless youth and manipulate their vulnerabilities, including the basic need for shelter, food, social support, love, care and self-esteem,” said Lindsay M. Ashworth, co-author of the report. “Moreover, many homeless youth have reported feelings of hopelessness, are without options to sustain themselves, and resort to ‘survival sex.’”
Sex trafficking victims are at a higher risk than the general population for physical and mental illnesses. These include injuries from physical and sexual assaults, sexually transmitted diseases, substance use and abuse, and mental health issues. Research shows that 70 to 95 percent of victims are physically assaulted; 88 percent are subject to verbal abuse; and 60 to 75 percent report being raped by pimps or customers.
As many as 100 percent of human trafficking victims meet the criteria for some type of mental illness, including 68 percent with qualifying characteristics of post traumatic stress disorder.
“To combat the psychological aftermath associated with these extreme forms of trauma, victims often resort to drugs and alcohol, which have become a common coping strategy to mitigate their experiences in the sex trade,” Dr. Franklin said. “This chemical dependence often leads to additional physical and mental health problems, producing a cycle of victimization and trauma, injury, substance abuses and adverse mental health outcomes.”
“Human Sex Trafficking: An Overview” is available on the CVI web site.