U.S. Attorney's Office Co-sponsors Heroin And Opiate Conference In Charlotte, N.C., Focusing on Raising Awareness And Addressing Prevention, Treatment, And Law Enforcement Response to Epidemic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Mecklenburg County, Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center, and Cardinal Innovations, hosted a day-long conference to raise community awareness to the rise of heroin and opiate abuse in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.

“Heroin and opiate abuse is a growing public health threat that is taking a toll on our community. Today’s conference puts a spotlight on the devastating impact of heroin and opiate addiction and highlights the importance of combining resources to address this public health crisis, focusing on awareness, enforcement, prevention and treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose during her opening remarks. “In addition to stemming the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods through law enforcement action, we are partnering with local organizations, healthcare providers, service groups, and community members to develop a long-term strategy to combat this epidemic and to find new and creative approaches to beat back the heroin and opiate threat in the Charlotte area.”

More than 240 professionals from the fields of law enforcement, medicine, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and interested community members attended the summit, held at Calvary Church in Charlotte. Speakers from federal and local law enforcement agencies, physicians, mental healthcare professionals, substance abuse experts and representatives of community organizations presented on a broad range of topics including: the rise in heroin and opiate addiction; drug trafficking trends and law enforcement action; the physiology of addiction; public education and prevention initiatives, available treatment options and rehabilitation recourses. Participants also heard a parent’s account on the impact of the death of a child due to a drug overdose.

U.S. Attorney Rose thanked all the co-sponsors for partnering with the Justice Department to organize the conference. U.S. Attorney Rose emphasized the importance of the event stating that, “Today’s summit is part of our ongoing effort to bring attention to heroin addiction and opioid drug abuse, as we to continue to build upon existing relationships and forge new collaborations to confront this epidemic and address the problem in real and meaningful ways.”