Human Trafficking Prevention: Warning Signs and Ways to Help

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world and has become an emerging health priority.

Unfortunately, human trafficking goes unnoticed by many, as people think of it as something that happens “somewhere else,” not in their town, state, or country.

The reality is that human trafficking is not just a faraway problem – it happens locally too, including right here in Massachusetts.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel an individual to do some kind of act. 

Human trafficking can take many different forms, including labor trafficking and sex trafficking.

It’s important to note that coercion doesn’t just mean physical violence – for example, human traffickers often use threats of economic harm (withholding pay, forcing individuals from their homes, etc.) to scare an individual into compliance.

Human trafficking is truly a global problem, as it affects individuals of all ages, genders, races, and sexual orientations. 

A growing health concern

Human trafficking has significant short- and long-term impacts on the physical, emotional, and psychological health of its victims.

Many victims of human trafficking are kept from regular medical exams or prevented from seeking treatment for ailments or injuries.

In some cases, by the time a victim is able to seek treatment, an issue that would have correctable months or years earlier has spiraled out of control.

In addition, victims of human trafficking often have little say in things like nutrition, exercise, and socialization, each of which plays a crucial role in our physical and emotional health.

The combination of these abuses, whether physical, psychological, or both, takes a detrimental toll on the health of the victims that can be difficult to truly measure.

Where does human trafficking occur?

To many, human trafficking is something that only occurs in illegal industries, like sex trafficking or the drug trade.

The reality is that human trafficking occurs in industries of all kinds, including common consumer-facing businesses.

The Polaris Project notes that it has received reports of human trafficking in restaurants, cleaning services companies, factories, construction companies, and more.

How can you identify human trafficking?

As you may suspect, human trafficking isn’t always obvious – but there are signs that may alert you that something isn’t quite right.

According to the Massachusetts Coalition to End Human Trafficking, signs of potential human trafficking can include:

• Evidence of physical, mental, or emotional abuse
• Being unable to speak to an individual alone – someone else insists on always being present
• An individual doesn’t have control of his or her ID, passport, or other important documents – someone else is holding on to it for them
• An individual gives answers that appear rehearsed or forced
• An individual is isolated from his or her family, friends, or loved ones

How can you help a victim of human trafficking?

In the case of a life-threatening situation, you should always dial 9-1-1.

If you suspect that an individual may be a victim of human trafficking, there are a number of resources you can use:

• Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
• Send a text to BEFREE (233733)
• Contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Division at 617-963-2011

For additional information, please visit The Polaris Project, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or the state website.

This blog was written by the South Shore Health Trauma Program Injury Prevention Team. 

Learn more about our Injury Prevention Program.