DEA’s Family Summits on Fentanyl

October 2023

During October, DEA field divisions across the country will host regional Family Summits in their community in order to bring together families who have lost loved ones to drug poisonings or overdoses, federal partners, and community prevention groups. These families are working to prevent others from experiencing the tragic loss of a loved one that they have experienced. These local summits will provide opportunities to share information, build connections, and foster collaboration between family groups, DEA, and other key sectors of their local community.

This short video shows just a few of the individuals who have lost their lives to a drug overdose.

June 14-15, 2022

DEA’s National Family Summit on the Overdose Epidemic invited more than 80 parent or family-led non-profit organizations that DEA field offices have connections to across the country. This first-ever event provided opportunities for DEA to share information on the scope of current drug threats, exchange ideas with these parent groups on how DEA, CDC, SAMHSA and other federal agencies and national partners could support them in their work, learn of their local efforts, ask them for their help with sharing the One Pill Can Kill fake pill awareness campaign in their communities, identify areas for further collaboration, and build or reinforce existing relationships and partnerships.

Message from the DEA Administrator

"Drug-related deaths are plaguing the nation and killing Americans at an unprecedented rate. Last year alone, nearly 108,000 lives were lost to a drug overdose, with fentanyl and methamphetamine driving this record increase. We can’t – we won’t – tolerate this as normal. It’s simply not acceptable.

Illicit drugs are more accessible and available than ever before; anyone with a smart phone or internet connection is a target of the drug cartels. DEA will continue to use the tools we have to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations flooding America with this poison.

But we know law enforcement alone isn’t enough. That’s why DEA held the first-ever Family Summit on the Overdose Epidemic on June 14-15, 2022 in Washington, D.C. DEA invited representatives from over 80 organizations formed mostly by parents who have experienced the profound loss of a child due to a drug poisoning or overdose. These families have turned grief into resolve to prevent other families from experiencing this kind of tragedy.

This two-day event created a dialogue to affect change through awareness and prevention."

- Anne Milgram

Participants

Join Us as Advocates for Change:

We know that there are many more families and parent organizations impacted by the overdose epidemic who won’t be represented at the summit this year, but we want to connect with you. Please consider registering with DEA to join us as advocates for change. Please use the following template and email us at familyoutreach@dea.gov

Inaugural National Family Summit Photo Gallery (November 2022)