DEA announces launch of program to combat opioid crisis

DEA announces launch of program to combat opioid crisis

SAYS IT'S A COLLECTIVE RESPONSETO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.NOW, THIS MEANS EVERYONE FROMTHE FEDERAL, STATE AND LCOALGOVERNEMENTS TO THE RAIDERS,GOLDEN KNIGHTS AND UFC - ALLARE ALL HANDS ON DECK TO TACKLETHIS CRISIS."WE DIDN'T KNOW OUR DAUGHTERWAS DOING DRUGS." JACKIE SIEGELAND HER HUSBAND DAVID ARE ON AMISSION TO SAVE LIVES."EVERY TIME THEY'RE TAKING ADRUG FROM A STREET OR TAKINGTOO MANY PILLS OR WHATEVER ITIS THAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'REPLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE." IT'SA GAME THEIR DAUGHTER VICTORIAPLAYED AND LOST.SHE DIED OF A HEROIN OVERDOSEFOUR YEARS AGO AT THE AGE OF 18- LEAVING BEHIND A DIARY THATREVEALED HER STRUGGLES WITHDEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SELF-WORTHAND HOW DRUGS CAME INTO PLAY."I FEEL THAT I KNOW HER MORENOW - WHAT WAS UP HERE - NOWTHAT'S SHE PASSED ON THAN WHENSHE WAS ALIVE." THE SIEGELS -WHO OWN WESTGATE RESORTS - ARELAUNCHING A DRUG-FREE INCENTIVEPROGRAM FOR TEENAGERS IN THREECCSD HIGH SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.THE VICTORY CLUBS ARE JUST ONEOF THE MANY NON-PROFITS THED-E-A IS PARTNERING WITH THISYEAR TO TACKLE THE OPIOIDCRISIS LOCALLY.ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO GET TOKIDS BEFORE THEY START."I NEED TO GO OUT INTO THECOMMUNITY AND HAVE THESECONVERSATIONS AND NOT BE AFRAIDTO TALK ABOUT HEY, 'THIS ISWHAT COULD HAPPEN.THIS IS THE CYCLE OF WHAT COULDHAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DO GETADDICTED TO DRUGS." DAN NEILL,THE DEA'S ASSISTANT AGENT INCHARGE FOR LAS VEGAS, SAYS THEPREVENTION PART OF THE PROGRAMWILL INVOLVE LOCAL SPORTSTEAMS.BUT THE PROGRAM IS ALSO AIMINGTO ENGAGE WITH DRUGMANUFACTURERES, DOCTORS ANDPHARMACISTS TO ENCOURAGERESPONSIBLE PRESCRIBINGPRACTICES AND TARGETING ALLLEVELS OF DRUG TRAFFICKINGORGANIZATIONS - TO GET THEDRUGS OFF THE STREETS."THERE FOR A WHILE WE WERESEIZING 20 THOUSAND PILLS OFOXYCODONE THIRTY TABLETS LACEDWITH FENTANYL ALMOST ON AWEEKLY OR BIWEEKLY BASIS.IT'S TOO MANY.IT'S ENOUGH." AND WHILE DRUGOVERDOSE DEATHS HAVEDROPPED SLIGHTLY, DRUGOVERDOSES ARE STILL ON THERISE.THE D-E-A IS HOPING ITS 360STRATEGY WILL HELP SAVE LIVESIN LAS VEGAS.JACKIE KOSTEK, 13 ACTION NEWS.