CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will deliver the opening remarks Thursday at a summit on the heroin and opioid epidemic scheduled Thursday in Charleston.
Sessions, a former U.S. Senator from Alabama, is scheduled to speak at 9 a.m. at the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 360 Heroin & Opioid Response Summit to be held at the University of Charleston.
The DEA announced earlier this year it was bringing its 360 Strategy to Charleston and southern West Virginia. The initiative, which is only in place in a few U.S. cities, attacks the epidemic on three fronts: diversion control, law enforcement and community outreach.
At the February announcement, DEA Special Agent in Charge Karl Colder told the large crowd gathered at the Kanawha County Board of Education offices, “We are here to break the cycle.” He added the 360 Strategy focuses on fighting drug trafficking and stemming abuse.
According to the DEA, Thursday’s day-long summit “will bring together stakeholders and professionals working in law enforcement, prevention and education, treatment, recovery, health care and emergency response.”