Estimates range form 450,000 to 2 million runaways each year in the US! Although half return, many times only to runaway again, studies indicate that an estimated 300,000 of these kids each year are coerced into trading their young bodies for a place to stay, food or drugs. These children are often running away from difficult home situations, abuse or neglect... only to discover that life on the streets is much more abusive, much more demanding, much more demeaning... their search for love and safety is used against them by predators that exploit there sexuality in the commercial sex industry.
To survive, these teenagers convince themselves that they are not victims; they see themselves as surviving a very difficult life. Finding them, working with them, rescuing them from this lifestyle is not easy... and sadly, only a few people around the country are even trying. However, some are reaching them... some are getting through and helping these kids turn their lives around.
Read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/us/27runaways.html?hp