Washington D.C. Officials Launch Anti-Drug Campaign
The U.S. government has launched a public awareness campaign to protect children from drug abuse and exploitation, announced by Attorney General Eric Holder at a Federal Interagency Drug Endangered Children Task Force event. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks posed to drug endangered children and empower communities to better serve children exposed to drug abuse.
Following opening remarks by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, Administrator Michele M. Leonhart of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) moderated a panel discussion featuring Attorney General Holder, actors Jim True-Frost (“Prez”), Wendell Pierce (“Bunk”), and Sonja Sohn (“Kima”) from the HBO hit series, The Wire. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske delivered closing remarks.
Focused on protecting children from drug abuse and exploitation, the public awareness campaign will emphasize the important role law enforcement officials, health professionals, educators, and community leaders play in helping first responders identify whether a child is endangered by drugs, as well as the resources available to assist vulnerable children.
“This public awareness campaign will highlight the risks posed to drug endangered children across the country and empower communities to better serve children exposed to drug abuse, trafficking, and addiction by their parent or childcare provider,” said Attorney General Holder. “Protecting youth from exposure to drug abuse is a key priority for this department, and we are unwavering in our commitment to raising awareness about this vital mission and continuing our efforts to assist the most vulnerable victims of the illicit drug industry.”
The DEC Task Force includes more than eight federal agencies and over 80 participants. Following the task force’s kick-off meeting in May 2010, the DEC Task Force established multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional teams to assist communities with at-risk children. These teams include representatives from law enforcement, child protective services, health professionals, educators, victim services specialists, child advocates, and the courts.
“Protecting drug endangered children is an essential tool to combating crime and safeguarding our communities,” said DEA Administrator Leonhart. “Children exposed to drug abuse are more than 50 percent more likely to be arrested as juveniles, so it is critical that we play an active role in preventing children’s exposure to drug abuse, as well as better serving children who are victims of drug abuse when it does occur.”
The DEC Task Force will launch a website providing resources to federal, state, local, and tribal partners to better serve children endangered by drugs. The website can be viewed at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/Children.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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