Hello Florida,

My name is Deanne Reuter. I am the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division.

Welcome to Operation Engage!

As we all know, there are far too many non-fatal and fatal drug overdoses affecting our communities, and sadly, these numbers are increasing. In response, DEA has moved toward community-level collaborative efforts to help reduce these numbers through education and awareness, using our wide range of resources.

Through Operation Engage, the Miami Field Division will focus on Broward County communities, targeting the opioid drug threat.

Other components of Operation Engage include:

• Stakeholder/Community Gatherings: To share the latest information about drug trends, drug threats, and other related pertinent information.
• The DEA’s Citizens Academy: DEA recognizes the importance of forging strong alliances with local communities and maintaining collaborative relationships with community leaders. The DEA’s Citizens Academy offers participants the opportunity to understand the world of federal drug law enforcement and the important role the DEA and the community together, play in combating drug trafficking, drug misuse, and related violence.
• Youth Engagement: Through programs like DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program, and in collaboration with United Way of Broward County, children of all ages will be able to actively participate in age-appropriate activities, designed for them to learn and gain the most knowledge about the dangers of drugs in a fun way.
• Community Outreach Programs: DEA, along with stakeholder involvement, will concentrate efforts in the top five cities most affected by opioid misuse. In those targeted cities, the Miami Field Division will participate in facilitating prevention strategies to include, but not limited to, drug prevention training and technical assistance for communities, coalition outreach, and prescription drug take back events to name a few.

These are only a few of the many resources and opportunities we have available to share with
our communities.

I invite you, and your families, to explore our Operation Engage webpage to learn about the many resources we have available. Learning as a family, early on, is the first step in avoiding drug experimentation, drug misuse, drug addiction, and all related behaviors that are plaguing our communities.

If you have any questions, please contact Special Agent Amy Roderick at (571) 362-3066.
 

Prescription drug misuse across the nation has resulted in many unintentional deaths and even more non-fatal drug overdoses. Use the resources below to educate yourself on the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic and to work to make Broward County drug free.

Were You Recently Prescribed Opioids?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released important guidance for patients  received opioid prescriptions. Read more.

What Should You Do With Your Unused Meds?

Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends, and acquaintances.  You can make a difference by keeping track of the medicine you have, by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home, and by safely disposing of any unused medications. Read more.

DEA Publications

Check out these drug prevention publications produced by DEA. Read more.

Looking for prevention resources specifically for young people? Go to the teen-focused site www.justthinktwice.com/. Here, they'll be able to get facts about drug use and learn ways to live a drug-free life.

Here are a few more resources for youth:

D.A.R.E.-Drug Abuse Resistance Education 
D.A.R.E.’s primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug and violence free lives.

Preventing Youth Opioid Abuse

Stop Youth Opioid Abuse is a multi-channel effort from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Ad Council, and the Truth Initiative that focuses on preventing and reducing the misuse of opioids among youth and young adults.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

SADD is a youth-based, peer-to-peer organization that promotes youth empowerment and uses peer influence to spread the message of positive decision-making. 

Here is a list of our community partners. Learn more about them by visiting their websites, linked below.

United Way of Broward County
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Southern District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office
Broward County School District

Go to FindTreatment.gov to search for general drug treatment facilities in your area. On this site, you can find facilities that offer various payment options (including free and no-cost care), youth treatment facilities, special programs for Veterans, plus more.

Otherwise, enter your zipcode below to find substance abuse treatment facilities in your area.  

Date: March 27, 2023

Time: 5:00-7:30pm

Where: School Board Room, 600 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Join us for a town hall for Broward County students and their families to discuss how to combat the fentanyl crisis through education, awareness, and prevention. This is a free event with light refreshments. Watch the Facebook livestream here: https://fb.me/e/41205BAmW

Date: March 28, 2023

Time: 3:00pm

Where: United Way of Broward County - Colker Center, 1300 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Inter-faith communities providing hope, support, and behavioral health resources in a strategic way through faith leaders, to strengthen families in Broward County. For more information, please contact (954) 453-3729 or Rstennett@UnitedWayBroward.org.

Dates, Times, and Locations: 
March 11, 8:00-11:00am: The Fort Lauderdale Beach Hub; 300 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL
March 20, 9:00am-1:00pm: Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8; 1000 S.W. 3rd St., Hallandale Beach, FL 
March 21, 12:00-5:30pm: Fort Lauderdale Main Library; 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL
March 22, 1:00-3:00pm: Nova Southeastern University - Mailman Hollywood Building - 2nd Floor Auditorium; 3301 College Ave., Davie, FL
March 24, 1:00-4:00pm: The Lucky Horse Sanctuary - 4250 NW 43rd St., Coconut Creek, FL

We invite students in grades 6-12 to come out for free, engaging, and fun activities and giveaways. March 11 will be the Fort Lauderdale Beach clean-up, March 20 will be a gardening and barbecue day with law enforcement officers, March 21 will be a Broward Youth Coalition student-led fun day, March 22 will be an interactive sociodrama about peer pressure, and March 24 will be a mental health and yoga session on the farm. Scan the QR code above or visit UnitedWayBroward.org/ASB2023 to register.