Human Trafficking and Florida Reporting Mandates

Human trafficking is considered a form of modern slavery, and it is global in its reach and impact. It is often associated with organized crime, but human trafficking can be more localized and include perpetrators known within a local community. Human trafficking is also referred to as trafficking in persons (TIP). It often involves the sexual exploitation of persons and forced labor, but other forms of trafficking are also perpetrated. Human trafficking adversely affects a victim’s mental and physical stability, security, and well-being. It adversely affects entire communities, commerce, countries, and geographical regions. Pharmacy staff are uniquely situated to identify victims of human trafficking through patient contact. Trafficked persons may present to the pharmacy, and pharmacy teams need to know how to recognize them, when and how to report human trafficking under Florida law, and to be familiar with available resources to support victims who have been trafficked.