NEW CLUB AND
PREDATORY DRUG INITIATIVE
Enforcement Effort and Public Education Keys to Success
On Thursday, November 21st, DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson
will announce "Operation X-Out," a national club and predatory
drug initiative at a news conference followed by a town-hall
meeting in San Diego, CA. The initiative is designed to engage
the public on the dangers of these drugs, as well as increase
enforcement operations on what has become a critical national
and international drug problem.
"The explosive use of Ecstasy and predatory drugs among our
youth is fast reaching epidemic levels. Unscrupulous dealers and
promoters are marketing Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and
other lesser known drugs to individuals who, all too often, do
not truly understand their potentially devastating effects,"
Hutchinson said. "Not only is the DEA targeting these
traffickers, we're also reaching out to communities in an
unprecedented way to get them involved."
Ecstasy is one of the most significant drug threats facing
America's young people today. Its popularity and emergency room
visits associated with its use have mushroomed in the past few
years. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates that
nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for Ecstasy rose
dramatically from 637 in 1997 to 5,542 in 2001.
DEA's new, multi-faceted initiative will focus on identifying
and dismantling organizations that are producing and
distributing club and predatory drugs in the U.S. and abroad. To
accomplish this DEA will:
-
double the number of club and predatory drug investigations
across the country
-
enhance airport interdiction task forces at specific airports
-
create three task forces in South Florida
-
utilize our twenty-one Mobile Enforcement Teams
-
increase DEA resources in the Netherlands
-
form an Internet task force to coordinate investigations
targeting E-drug traffickers
DEA will also team up with anti-drug coalitions like the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest
National Network, the medical community, and state legislators,
such as the National Foundation of Women Legislators, to engage
and educate the public on the dangers of these drugs.
"DEA is committed to fashioning local solutions to our national
drug problem. By bringing all shareholders -- parents, students,
teachers, physicians and treatment professionals -- together
with law enforcement authorities, we will forge solutions at the
grass roots level," Hutchinson added.
The town-hall meeting will feature a discussion between local
residents and a panel of local and national experts. The panel
in San Diego will include Mr. Hutchinson, DEA Dangerous Drugs
and Chemical Section Chief Dennis Wichern, Judi Clark from the
Samantha Reid Foundation, San Diego County Medical Examiner
Brian Blackbourne, San Diego Chief of Police David Bejarano, and
a student from San Diego State University who will discuss how
the younger generation views this new wave of drugs. The
campaign can be replicated and customized in communities across
the nation.
"In addition to those drugs intentionally abused by individuals,
there is an increasing trend towards the use of drugs like GHB
and Rohypnol, which can be used by predators to facilitate
sexual assault, domestic abuse, and other violent crimes,"
Hutchinson added.
If you have questions or need further information visit
www.dea.gov to learn more about Ecstasy and predatory drugs.
Back To Index
