With Spring Break just around the corner, students across the country are receiving lectures on how to travel safely.

Most have probably heard talks about the dangers of over-drinking and why never to try drugs. What about the other scares of traveling to unfamiliar areas?

Human trafficking is another danger of traveling to a foreign country that is not commonly mentioned.

According to a 2006 study, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime identified 161 countries as affected by human trafficking. The UN also identified 137 of these countries as ‘destination countries.’

Now, think about how many students go abroad to ‘destination countries’ for their spring break… i.e. Mexico. This year, the popular go-to spot is Cabo.

Other destinations include various islands in the Caribbean, beaches along the Mediterranean Sea, and…[wait for it]… the U.S., which suggests not neglecting the sunny spots our own country has to offer.

In 2004, 70 percent of female victims were trafficked into the commercial sex industry, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The remaining 30 percent of female victims were put into forced labor.

So, when you travel abroad, keep this in mind: If you drink too much, decide to try some drugs or make any sort of idiotic decision, you sleave yourself vulnerable.

Moreover, should you be kidnapped, Liam Neeson is not your dad, and no, he will not beat to a pulp the scumbags who take you.

To prevent this kind of vulnerability, it is vitally important to remember basic tips.

One is to never be alone. This means stay in groups and never leaving anyone behind.

Another basic tip is to take care of oneself.

Students in college have entered adulthood – so they need to start acting like it. Now is the time to heed those seemingly tedious pearls of wisdom.