United States Drug Enforcement Administration

I am Jon DeLena, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the New England Field Division and I’d like to welcome you 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, our division will focus on the Manchester, New Hampshire community, targeting the fentanyl 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 the DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program, and in collaboration with CADCA and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, 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 communities most affected by fentanyl use. In those targeted communities, the New England 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.

Always at your service,

Associate Special Agent in Charge DeLena

Learn more about the history and effects of drugs with neat, printable fact sheets (all PDFs) that can serve as handy resources by visiting https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/publication/drug-fact-sheets.

Check out this list of local organizations that provide services to the public regarding addiction, community empowerment, drug education and prevention, drug take back programs, recovery, and overall health and wellness.

BeBOLD of Bedford
Boys and Girls Club of Manchester and Nashua
CADY – Communities for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth
DEA Dance Program
Dover Youth 2 Youth
Elks Manchester
Lions Club Manchester
Makin’ It Happen Coalition for Resilient Youth
Manchester Police Athletic League
Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy – Manchester Campus
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Raymond Coalition for Youth
Rehabs.org
Teen Challenge of New Hampshire
The NH Governor’s Youth Counsel

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.

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.  

Check back here for local, upcoming Operation Engage events!