WHEREAS, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) 360 is a comprehensive approach tackling the cycle of violence and addiction generated by the link between drug cartels, violent gangs, and the rising problem of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in U.S. cities; and
WHEREAS, DEA 360 involves coordinated law enforcement operations targeting all levels of drug trafficking organizations and violent gangs supplying drugs to our neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, The DEA 360 strategy also engages drug manufacturers, wholesalers, practitioners, and pharmacists through diversion control to increase awareness of the opioid epidemic and encourage responsible prescribing practices, and use of opioid painkillers throughout the medical community; and
WHEREAS, The strategy incorporates community outreach and partnership with local organizations following enforcement operations, equipping and empowering communities to fight the opioid epidemic; and
WHEREAS, DEA rolled out the 360 Strategy in November 2015 in Pittsburgh together with the U.S. Attorney and state and local partners. Since that time, DEA has deployed the strategy in other pilot cities and is using the three-pronged approach in all DEA Field Divisions; and
WHEREAS, Since the implementation of the program in Philadelphia in January 2017, the DEA has partnered with and supported the Gurney Street Project, the Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Kensington Storefront and Porch Light Program, and sponsored youth dance programs at elementary schools around Kensington as well as other events across Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The DEA has joined forces with Discovery Education to create Operation Prevention, a comprehensive, no-cost, science-based program for young people ages 8-18, to combat opioid misuse; and
WHEREAS, Operation Prevention includes digital classroom lessons, a parent toolkit, Spanish resources, video challenge, on demand virtual field trips, and student learning module; and
WHEREAS, Education prevention is one of the many ways to combat the opioid crisis and we encourage a collaborative partnership between DEA 360 and the other programs currently providing prevention education; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Hereby acknowledges and recognizes the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 360 Strategy, an innovative three-pronged approach to combating heroin/opioid use through Law Enforcement, Diversion, and Community Outreach.
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