CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The stakeholders in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s efforts to battle the drug epidemic in Charleston and southern West Virginia will gather Thursday for a one-day summit.
What organizers call “A Compassionate Call to Action” will be held at the University of Charleston with the goal of “exploring the issues of stigma, prevention, treatment, protecting the public’s health, first responder fatigue, law enforcement and a comprehensive approach to addressing the pills to heroin epidemic.”
The DEA announced in February the southern district of West Virginia had been chosen for DEA360 Strategy which focuses on diversion control, law enforcement and community outreach.
The effort has been busy since the initial announcement three months ago, said DEA Assistant Special Agent in-charge David Gourley.
“We’ve reached out and done numerous community events where we’ve tried to educate the public about the dangers of the opioid epidemic. We’ve had some firsthand information for students–given them a real life situation and hopefully the firsthand account will hammer home the problems,” Gourley said.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is scheduled to deliver the opening remarks at the summit. Gourley said the visit should be a boost for the initiative.
“It hammers home the importance of the fight against the opioid addiction here in West Virginia. It brings more emphasis to the problem,” Gourley said. “It emphases the commitment from D.C. about it.”
Sessions is scheduled to speak at approximately 9 a.m.