Citation

Langton L, Planty MG, Banks D, Witwer AR, Woods D, Vermeer MJD, Jackson BA. Rand Health Q. 2022; 9(4): e14.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Rand Corporation)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

36238009

PMCID

PMC9519098

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) is common among victims of sex trafficking. Traffickers may exploit individuals' existing opioid use or other SUDs to coerce them into sex trafficking, or they may facilitate substance use to keep trafficking victims from exiting. Additionally, trafficking victims may use substances to cope with trauma. The intersections of sex trafficking and SUD complicate both legal responses and victim advocate responses to sex trafficking cases. Victim SUD can lead to challenges for law enforcement and prosecutors in developing cases against traffickers. On the provider side, traditional victim services are often insufficient for victims of trafficking with SUDs, who face substantial barriers to accessing services. A better understanding of the nexus between sex trafficking and SUDs is critical for implementing victim-centered and trauma-informed responses to this vulnerable population. In this article, the authors describe an online panel, convened in April 2021 by RTI International and the RAND Corporation on behalf of the National Institute of Justice, in which subject-matter experts and criminal justice practitioners discussed how SUDs and sex trafficking complicate the identification and screening of victims and victims' ability to access treatment and legal remedies. The panel participants identified 21 high-priority needs to support a better understanding of sex trafficking and SUDs and a variety of solutions for addressing these intertwined issues.

Keywords: Human trafficking;

Language: en

Keywords

Sexual Abuse; Health Risk Behaviors; Substance Use; Substance Use Harm Reduction; Violent Crime