West Liberty, WV -- According to local authorities right now cults are operating here in the valley and around the world. Thursday in an effort to break up cult activities local law enforcement attended a seminar on cults at West Liberty State College. Experts say cults can come in all different disguises. Johnette McCarcken, a criminal justice professor says, "they get power over individuals sometimes there are large amounts of money involved, sometimes it's an ethnic cultural religious hold related to terrorism as like 9/11 some thing that people are willing to die for their cause." Professor McCracken says cult leaders target the weak and young, "these individuals stalk them and they make them feel comfortable sometimes they give them drugs sometimes they give them money." Cult members use sleep deprivation and drugs to brain wash their victims and apparently the valley makes a convenient commune location, "we have a lot of areas that people cannot get to with normal vehicles we have a lot of trees and mountains we have caves we have places that are conducive to people hiding out or being secretive" says Professor McCracken. If you suspect your child may be contacted by a cult member, experts say the best thing is to confront you child.