Charleston, W.Va. — Human Trafficking Awareness Grows in the Mountain State
When Leah Hensley was in her early 20s, she fell victim to human trafficking, a reality many believe only occurs in big cities. Hensley, now a peer recovery specialist, recounted her harrowing experience in 2018 when she was abducted from Beckley, West Virginia. While under the influence of drugs, she was lured into a man’s van, waking up disoriented and in a basement in Pennsylvania alongside another woman. Hensley managed to escape through a small window, sharing her location with a friend, but never reported the incident due to outstanding warrants for her arrest related to her drug use.
Experts, including Samantha Dial from the West Virginia Center, emphasize that such stories are not isolated. Vulnerabilities stemming from economic hardship and unstable home environments make individuals easy targets for traffickers. The state’s recent statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline reveal 73 calls and 29 identified cases in 2023, indicating the problem’s underreporting.
Kanawha County recently achieved a landmark conviction in a labor trafficking case involving severe abuse. Awareness initiatives like "You Can" aim to educate the public on recognizing signs of trafficking and empower communities to act. Hensley, now approaching four years of sobriety, advocates for awareness, hoping to inspire others facing similar struggles.
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