What to know about sex trafficking as Pittsburgh hosts the NFL draft

The NFL draft will bring increased demand and risks for trafficking. Here’s what Pittsburgh needs to know, from warning signs to local prevention efforts.

By: Mary Burke, Carlow University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 24, 2026

Words: 1,003

Last Updated: 3 months ago

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By Mary Burke, Carlow University

With the NFL draft taking place in Pittsburgh and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 people expected to attend the events downtown and on the North Shore, conversations about sex trafficking have resurfaced – as they often do when major events draw large crowds to a city.

But how much of what people believe about trafficking and big events is actually supported by evidence? Mary Burke, a psychology professor at …

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