WASHINGTON – Prosecuting criminals responsible for deadly drug poisonings has long been a challenge, but the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says its efforts are gaining traction. Since expanding its OD Justice program nationwide in 2022, the DEA has conducted nearly 500 investigations into drug poisonings and overdose-related deaths.
Launched in 2021, the initiative provides training, resources, and specialized poisoning response coordinators to help state and local law enforcement in handling these complex cases.
“DEA has brought more cases involving fentanyl to federal court than ever before this past year, and we are just getting started. As I walk through the lobby of DEA Headquarters, I am reminded why we must work differently. The more than 6,000 Americans included in the Faces of Fentanyl, who have lost their lives to this deadly epidemic, remind us of the devastation and loss caused by fentanyl and the hundreds of thousands of American lives lost,” said Administrator Anne Milgram.
In many instances, the DEA has successfully traced the source of deadly drugs back to Mexican cartels supplying street-level dealers, marking a significant step in holding those responsible accountable.
“For the first time since 2021, we are seeing a decrease in overdose deaths. This news is encouraging, yet there is much more work to be done, because one life lost to fentanyl is one too many,” said Milgram.