This is a summary version of an academic article, Human Trafficking, Cults, & Coercion: The Use of Drugs as a Tool, written by Robin Boyle-Laisure, first published in the International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation, Vol. 3, 2023. Read the full academic article on the ICSA Online Library, and the summary below.
Abstract
Human Trafficking, Cults, & Coercion: The Use of Drugs as a Tool: Thanks to the successful prosecution of sex traffickers, the definition and proof of “coercion” now encompasses evidence showing the use of addictive drugs as a tool. This article describes two case examples, and in both, the perpetrators supplied abundant amounts of addictive substantives. Once those victims became addicted and feared the pain of withdrawal, the sex traffickers forced the victims to perform commercial sex acts to pay off the drug debt they incurred, feeding the addiction the traffickers caused. Coercion by way of intentional drug addiction and control is a theory that expands the operative word “coercion”.
Who this article is for: This article is essential for legal professionals and researchers seeking concrete evidentiary strategies to prosecute high-control groups and cult leaders. It also serves as a vital resource for law enforcement, educators, and parents looking to identify telltale signs of drug-based coercion in suspected trafficking victims.
At a glance
This article explores how the legal definition of “coercion” has expanded to include the intentional use of addictive drugs as a tool of control. Traditionally, “mind control” arguments struggled in court, but recent successful sex trafficking prosecutions provide a new blueprint for holding cult leaders accountable. By establishing how perpetrators use drug debt and withdrawal fear to force labor, lawyers can bypass the high evidentiary hurdles of psychological manipulation cases.
Key points
The shift from psychological to chemical coercion
Historically, convincing a jury that a victim was “brainwashed” or subjected to mind manipulation was an uphill battle for prosecutors. The Trafficking Protection Act of 2000 lowered this hurdle by allowing for a broader interpretation of coercion that is easier to prove in criminal court. This shift focuses on tangible evidence of control rather than abstract psychological theories.
“In the past, theories about mind manipulation and brainwashing were often unsuccessful when trying to convince a judge and jury how the victim ended up in unfortunate circumstances…” (Page 1)
Drug debt as a mechanism of forced labor
Traffickers often supply expensive addictive substances to victims for “free” or on credit to intentionally create a state of dependency. Once the victim is addicted, the perpetrator demands repayment for the accumulated drug debt, forcing the victim into commercial sex acts to pay it off. This cycle ensures the trafficker profits while the victim remains trapped by both chemical need and financial obligation.
“The perpetrator seized the leverage over the victim by demanding repayment for the drugs he supplied. In order to pay off this debt, the victims were coerced into performing commercial sex…” (Page 2)
Statutory definitions and the element of value
Under federal law, a “commercial sex act” is defined broadly as any act where anything of value is exchanged. This means a prosecutor does not necessarily need to prove that money changed hands; the exchange of drugs for sex satisfies the legal requirement. For victims over 18, the prosecution must prove “force, fraud, or coercion,” while for minors, these elements are not required as they cannot legally consent.
“A ‘commercial sex act’ is defined under the statute as ‘any act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.’” (Page 1)
Precedent from sex trafficking case law
Cases like United States v. Fields and United States v. Mack demonstrate how drug-based coercion is successfully prosecuted. In these instances, defendants were convicted because they controlled victims by feeding their addictions and keeping detailed ledgers of their drug debts. Even when defendants argued that providing pills wasn’t “coercion,” appellate courts have upheld these convictions, solidifying the legal theory.
“Selling drugs on credit meant that once he got them addicted to the opioids he readily supplied, he coerced them into doing sex work to pay back the debt…” (Page 2)
Cult leaders and the NXIVM precedent
The strategies used against sex traffickers are now being applied to cult leaders who run similar high-control enterprises. A landmark example is the conviction of Keith Raniere, the leader of NXIVM, who was found guilty of sex trafficking and other crimes. This case sets a precedent, showing that “self-help” or communal leaders are not exempt from trafficking laws if they use exploitative manipulation and abuse.
“Cult leaders run enterprises like those of sex traffickers, and in some cases, they are one and the same.” (Page 2)
Tools for identification and intervention
Beyond the courtroom, this legal framework provides practical tools for those on the front lines of victim identification. By understanding that addiction is a tool of coercion, law enforcement and teachers can ask specific, targeted questions to suspected victims. This approach moves the focus from the victim’s “choice” to use drugs to the perpetrator’s intentional use of those drugs as a means of bondage.
“I further provided telltale signs of trafficking for law enforcement, teachers, and parents, and I suggested questions they could ask when conversing with suspected victims.” (Page 1)
Conclusion summary
The article concludes that the successful prosecution of sex traffickers has provided a vital legal blueprint for tackling coercion in cults. By focusing on the “coercion” element through the lens of drug dependency and debt—rather than relying solely on difficult-to-prove psychological “brainwashing”—prosecutors have a more effective path to justice. This evolving legal theory offers a powerful weapon against leaders of high-control groups who use substances to exploit their followers.
Why is this important
This area of research is critical because it bridges the gap between trafficking law and cultic studies, providing a “less onerous” evidentiary path for justice. While traditional “mind control” arguments often fail in court, the drug-as-coercion model uses established statutory definitions that are harder for defense teams to dismantle. It marks a significant shift in how the law recognizes the intersection of physical addiction and psychological control.
About the author:
Robin Boyle-Laisure JD, is Professor of Legal Writing and a full-time faculty member at St. John’s University School of Law, where she teaches first-year legal writing and upper-level courses in contract drafting and scholarly research and writing. Professor Boyle-Laisure is the author of more than 40 articles, essays, and book chapters on legal writing, pedagogy, and legal issues related to undue influence, cults, and human trafficking. She regularly presents at national and international conferences on these topics and serves on ICSA’s Board of Directors. Her books include Taken No More: Protecting Your Children Against Traffickers and Cults (Bloomsbury, 2025) and Teaching Contract Drafting (Edward Elgar, 2023).Robin Boyle-Laisure presented this overview at the 2022 Annual International Conference for the International Cultic Studies Association. Her work focuses on the intersection of human trafficking laws with cults, including the case of United States v. Raniere (NXIVM). She is a published author in the Oregon Review of International Law and the International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation.
