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Many Americans are learning that human trafficking exists not just in faraway locations, but also in the United States. Across the country, different communities have taken measures to increase awareness about human trafficking.

A huge part of this involves providing training to workers (such as those in the transportation and entertainment industries) who are more likely to come across traffickers or their victims while on the job.

While no American state remains free from trafficking, some cases are more reported in certain states than others. North Carolina, for example, is among the nation's top ten states for human trafficking.

It is for this reason that officials in the state are working to raise awareness about this problem.

A closer look at human trafficking problems in North Carolina

Billy West, the district attorney of Cumberland County, has some thoughts on why North Carolina is one of the states leading America in human trafficking cases.

West points out that North Carolina remains very populated and continues to grow. Furthermore, the state's reputation for sports, tourism, etc., definitely counts as a factor.

As a North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission member, the Cumberland County district attorney also warns that many human traffickers use drug addiction to lure in and keep individuals trapped in sexual exploitation.

Another common scheme pulled by human traffickers, warns West, involves offering to help individuals who struggle with homelessness or a lack of US citizenship. Ultimately, traffickers use these vulnerabilities to prey on people and make money off of them.

Many non-US citizens in North Carolina also may not speak English. This, too, is an aspect that human traffickers can and do use to gain control.

Anti-human trafficking efforts in North Carolina

In Greenville, NC Stop Human Trafficking is taking action to halt human trafficking in its tracks.

With January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month/Human Trafficking Prevention Month, NC Stop Human Trafficking's awareness campaign will proceed throughout the rest of the month.

This campaign will offer online informative details regarding the following subject matters:

• Ties between pornography and human trafficking
• The ins and outs of the movement to end human trafficking
• How to keep kids safe online
• How to ensure kids find themselves in healthy relationships
• How to support caregivers

NC Stop Human Trafficking remains committed to ensuring that North Carolina eventually rids itself of all human trafficking.

Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.