PROSTITUTION HAS EXISTED THROUGHOUT HISTORY, BUT THE INCIDENCE OF ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTION APPEARS TO BE INCREASING. IN THE TWIN CITIES, SUCH PROSTITUTION INVOLVES GIRLS FROM AGES 13 TO 18. SOME ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTES USE PIMPS, WHILE OTHERS WORK INDEPENDENTLY. MANY PRACTICE BIRTH CONTROL. INFORMATION ABOUT VENEREAL DISEASE IS OBTAINED FROM THE STREET. ALL PIMPS ARE MALE; YOUNGER ONES ARE USUALLY BLACK. PIMPS TEND TO DISCOURAGE PROSTITUTES' USE OF HARD DRUGS. LOCAL BUYERS ARE USUALLY WHITE MEN OVER 25, BOTH MARRIED AND SINGLE. MOST MEN SEEM TO WANT ORAL SEX OR INTERCOURSE. MOST SEX ACTS OCCUR IN CARS, FROM LUNCHTIME TO LATE AFTERNOON AS WELL AS LATER IN THE EVENING. A TEENAGER'S RISK OF RECRUITMENT BY A PIMP IS INCREASED BY POOR SELF-IMAGE, BEING A RUNAWAY, HAVING FRIENDS IN PROSTITUTION, OR SEEKING OF MATERIAL GOODS OR A MAN ON WHOM TO DEPEND. PIMPS USE THE APPEARANCE OF LOVE AND AFFECTION TO RECRUIT PROSTITUTES. THE TEENAGER USUALLY DOES NOT KNOW SHE IS BEING RECRUITED FOR PROSTITUTION WHEN THE PIMP STARTS DATING HER. SHE MAY BE PROMOTED TO WORKING INDOORS, MAY BECOME PREGNANT, OR MAY BE 'USED UP.' MOST INDEPENDENT PROSTITUTES ARE POOR BLACKS WHO LIVE AROUND OTHERS WORKING AT HOME AS PROSTITUTES. ALTHOUGH MANY ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTES AND OLDER PROSTITUTES BELIEVE GIRLS STAY IN PROSTITUTION BECAUSE THEY ARE IN LOVE WITH THEIR PIMPS, THIS LOVE IS REALLY PUPPY LOVE FRAUDULENTLY MANIPULATED BY THE PIMPS. NO SINGLE OR SIMPLE METHOD CAN CONTROL, REDUCE, OR PREVENT THE ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTION PROBLEM. INEFFECTIVE OR DANGEROUS METHODS INCLUDE DIRECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AT PIMPS OR BUYERS. MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACHES ENCOMPASS PUBLIC EDUCATION, PROVISION OF SHELTERS AND PROTECTION FOR PROSTITUTES WISHING TO LEAVE, AND THE USE OF STREET WORKERS FROM YOUTH AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING AND TRAINING CAN HELP ADOLESCENTS ACQUIRE SKILLS FOR JOBS WITH MORE POTENTIAL THAN PROSTITUTION. A FOOTNOTE AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)