International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)

Cults & Drug-Based Coercion: Lessons From Human Trafficking Cases for Cult Litigation

Robin Boyle‑Laisure’s article examines how recent sex‑trafficking prosecutions have expanded the legal definition of coercion to include the intentional use of addictive drugs. By supplying victims with drugs on credit, traffickers create debt and withdrawal fear, forcing commercial sex to repay the debt. The piece highlights landmark cases such as United States v. Fields, United States v. Mack, and the NXIVM conviction, showing how these precedents give prosecutors a tangible evidentiary path against cult leaders. It argues that focusing on drug‑based coercion bypasses the difficult‑to‑prove “mind‑control” theories traditionally used in cult litigation.