United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(PHOENIX) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Phoenix Division and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes are Huddling Up with NFL Alumni Health and Rise Up Glendale this Friday, May 17th to raise awareness and bring the community together to save lives. This community outreach and educational opportunity aims to provide greater awareness about fentanyl and fake pills made to look like prescription medications.  

DEA Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Cheri Oz and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will join NFL 3x Pro-Bowl Offensive Tackle Lincoln Kennedy, and Superbowl Champion Punter Kyle Richardson and Wide Receiver Billy Davis to tackle the tough subject of fentanyl.  

“DEA will not stop and as we double down holding drug traffickers accountable and continue messaging DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign with our partners,” said DEA SAC Cheri Oz. “Let’s Huddle Up, save lives and turn this around.”

“Preventing fentanyl use and promoting awareness about the dangers and risks associated with using street drugs is a responsibility we all share,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is proud to partner with the DEA and NFL Alumni Health for this important community event.”

Brad Edwards, CEO of the NFL Alumni Association, (NFLA) said, “We are proud to partner with multiple government agencies to equip our local communities with the knowledge, tools and sense of resolve necessary to reverse America’s overdose trends. We aim to use the experiences and powerful, personal stories of former NFL players who have felt the impact of this epidemic first-hand to augment the ‘One Pill Can Kill’ messaging campaign and inspire communities to rise up and take action.

This event is open to the public beginning at 4:30 PM., where there will be over 35 community partners who will provide a wide variety of resources, on-site live entertainment by Nickelodeon actor Marliek “Mar Mar” Walker, autograph and photography opportunities with NFL retired players and much more!  The program will begin at 5:30 PM and the event will be held at the Glendale System of Care, 7677 W. Bethany Home Road, Glendale, Arizona.

Please visit www.dea.gov/engage/operation-engage-glendale for free resources, educational materials and upcoming events.

This event has received support from many local community partners to include the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.

Background:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts more than 110,000 American lives were lost in 2023 from drug poisonings and drug-related deaths.  Nearly 70% of those drug poisonings are related to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.    

DEA is responding to this drug threat with unparalleled actions. Last year, the agency seized a record 78.4 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. In Arizona, DEA in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement, DEA Arizona seized over 42 million of these deadly pills in 2023.

In addition to disrupting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, DEA is focused on finding innovative and creative ways to meet people where they are and continue to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.  One initiative DEA has launched is DEA’s Operation Engage, a comprehensive community-level collaborative approach which focuses on reducing drug poisonings and saving lives through continuing drug education and awareness, prevention curriculum, online resources, school programs, and many other special events.

Through Operation Engage, the DEA Phoenix Division will focus its resources for a second year in Glendale, Arizona, targeting the opioid threat. Other components of Operation Engage will include: Citizen’s Academy, Family Summit, Youth Summit and after school healthy activities for youth.  Another DEA initiative is DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Campaign that was created to educate Americans about the threat of fake pills and increase awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.