CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The federal government is committing more resources to the Charleston-Huntington corridor to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration unveiled its 360 Strategy at a news conference Wednesday in Charleston
The initiative, which is only in place in a few U.S. cities, attacks the epidemic on three fronts: diversion control, law enforcement and community outreach.
Acting U.S. Attorney for West Virginia’s Southern District Carol Casto said it’s a relief to get the assistance.
“We are truly fighting for our lives here and for the Drug Enforcement Administration to bring this program to us and the resources that come along with it is enormous,” Casto said.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Karl Colder told the large crowd gathered at the Kanawha County Board of Education offices, “We are here to break the cycle.” He added the 360 Strategy focuses on fighting drug trafficking and stemming abuse.
The strategy, which will use existing community efforts, also has an education component that officials say will take the message into middle and high schools using science to talk about the impact of drugs.
Carlton Hall, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America deputy director, said the 360 effort is about joining forces as a community family to deal with the problems. Hall said he believes the effort will eventually include more areas of West Virginia.
“I know that these community members are already thinking about how they are going to expand the support that’s being provided here beyond these three counties (Kanawha, Putnam, Cabell) to help other counties,” he said.
Colder cautioned the fight is long and those involved must be patient. He said it takes time to reduce the number of those desiring the drugs and those coming into the state and selling them.
Charleston residents Cecilia and Bobby Brown lost their 27-year-old son Ryan to a heroin overdose nearly three years ago. They want to be part of the 360 Strategy.
“When he died, when the detective came to tell us the news, the first thing we did, we told them we didn’t want one more person to die and that’s why we’re here,” she said.
Additional information released Wednesday by the DEA concerning the 360 Strategy included:
–Change Attitudes through Community Outreach by partnering with medical professionals, Departments of Education, governmental and community service organizations to proactively educate the public about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and heroin abuse, and to guide individuals to treatment services when needed and to equip and empower communities with the tools to fight the heroin and prescription drug epidemic.
–Have a long lasting impact through Diversion Control by engaging drug manufacturers, wholesalers, practitioners and pharmacists to increase awareness of the prescription drug and related heroin problem, and to push for responsible prescribing and use of these medications.
–Provide DEA leadership with coordinated DEA enforcement actions targeting all levels of drug trafficking organizations and violent gangs supplying drugs in our neighborhoods, as we have been doing with ongoing law enforcement operations.
The strategy brings together experts in substance abuse and prevention to work with four key groups of citizens: parents and caregivers in the home, educators and students in the classroom, after-school organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs and athletic associations, and the workplace.
“By engaging in dialogue, providing information and resources, and helping to erase the stigma of addiction, we can educate young people and others about the consequences of misuse of prescription painkillers and abuse of heroin,” the DEA said.
A “Call to Action” community-wide meeting to discuss the strategy is expected sometime in May.