U.S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Washington Division
Karl C. Colder, SAC
www.dea.gov
February 13, 2017
MEDIA ADVISORY
DEA TO ANNOUNCE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS HEROIN, OPIOID ABUSE, AND VIOLENT CRIME IN KANAWHA, PUTNAM AND CABELL COUNTIES
Event will take place from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Kanawha County Board of Education, 1st Floor Auditorium, 200 Elizabeth St., Charleston, WV
Contact: Special Agent Susan Wolf, Public Information Officer, (202) 307-5078
Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division announced today that the cities of Charleston to Huntington and the surrounding counties of Kanawha, Putnam and Cabell, will be the next region where the DEA will implement the DEA 360 Strategy which is a comprehensive approach to address prescription opioid abuse, heroin use, and violent crime.
A news conference announcing Charleston’s selection as the next city for the DEA’s new strategy is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15th between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the Kanawha County Board of Education, 1st Floor Auditorium, located at 200 Elizabeth Street in Charleston, West Virginia. The press is invited to arrive at 11:00 a.m. to conduct interviews with the various speakers. The Press conference will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Speakers at the announcement will include:
· Karl C. Colder, special Agent in Charge, DEA
· Carol Casto, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia
· Jim Johnson, City of Huntington’s Office of Drug Control Policy
· Rod Rogers from Representative David McKinley’s Office
· Fred Joseph from Representative Alex Mooney’s Office
· Michael Chirico from Representative Evan Jenkins’s Office
· Mary Elisabeth Eckerson from Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s Office
· Ronald Duerring and John Duffy, Kanawha Board of Education
· Michael Brumage, Executive Director Kanawha-Charleston Health Department
· Captain Eric Johnson, Charleston Police Department
· Cecilia Brown, Parent
· Kristi Justice, Kanawha Communities that Care
The goals of the DEA 360 Strategy include stopping the deadly cycle of prescription opioid and heroin abuse by eliminating the drug trafficking organizations and gangs fueling violence on the streets and addiction in communities. The strategy will also include partnering with healthcare professionals and engaging and strengthening community and social service organizations that are best positioned to provide long-term help and support for building drug-free communities.
National partners who are participating in the DEA’s 360 Strategy include the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, DEA Educational Foundation, U.S. Department of Justice’s Violence Reduction Network, The Elks Club, U.S. Department of Health & Humans Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
The response to DEA’s request for local partners in Putnam, Kanawha and Cabell Counties to participate in the DEA 360 Strategy has been overwhelming. Our local partners include Kanawha Communities that Care, Putnam Wellness Coalition, United Way River Cities Coalition, West Virginia State Police, Charleston Police Department, Charleston Fire Department and EMS, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office, Huntington Police Department, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, Fruth Pharmacy, Prestera, Kanawha Board of Education, Huntington Mayor’s Office, Appalachian HIDTA, Cabell County Health Department, West Virginia Department of Health, and many others that are too numerous to list.
Members of the media wishing to attend the press conference are asked to contact DEA Public Information Officer/Special Agent Susan Wolf at .
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