United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CLEVELAND – The Drug Enforcement Administration has selected Cleveland as a DEA 360 city, offering additional resources focused on preventing drug abuse, with a particular emphasis on education about the dangers of opioids.

The effort includes a website, a public awareness campaign, after-school activities and free presentations to schools and workplaces.

For additional information, go to the website www.wakeup-cleveland.com, which went live earlier this month.

The designation comes as Ohio continues to struggle with the ongoing opioid epidemic. Ohio had the second-highest fatal overdose rate in the country and the fourth-highest number of fatal overdoses in 2017, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The DEA 360 effort is in addition to the DEA’s traditional roles of investigating large-scale drug trafficking, as well the diversion of painkillers and other prescription medication.

“Cleveland’s DEA 360 program will look to enhance existing efforts already underway, such as the U.S. Attorney’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force and the Cuyahoga County Opioid Task Force, among others,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin of the Cleveland District Office.

Among the goals of DEA 360 is to create a long-lasting impact by increasing awareness of the costs and consequences of opioid abuse, whether it is through heroin, fentanyl or misuse of prescription drugs. Another goal is to reduce the demand through increased collaboration, prevention, treatment and recovery support.

These goals will be achieved by targeting audiences in the home (parents and caregivers), in school (both students and educators), after school (through athletics, clubs and other activities) and the workplace.

For media inquiries, please contact: Cheryl Davis at 571-362-1859 or DetroitPIO@dea.usdoj.gov. For DEA 360 partnership information, contact DEA 360 Cleveland Community Outreach Coordinator Lorna Mclain at 571-362-4070 or Lorna.S.Mclain@usdoj.gov.