Town Hall: Your Voice. Your Future – Opioids: A National Crisis
LAS VEGAS – On March 5, Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon participated in “Town Hall: Your Voice. Your Future – Opioids: A National Crisis,” to highlight the gravity of the opioid epidemic and DEA’s important work to combat it. The town hall was hosted by Eric Bolling, television personality and the father of an opioid overdose victim.
The town hall was broken into several segments to explore various aspects of the opioid crisis. First Lady Melania Trump headlined the program, discussing her BE BEST initiative, an awareness campaign focused entirely around the well-being of children; the importance of media coverage of the epidemic and educating children early; and praising law enforcement and efforts to stem the flow of opioids across our borders.
The second segment with Acting Administrator Dhillon focused on DEA and enforcement. The Acting Administrator took the opportunity to discuss progress, including flattening death rates, increases in seizures, and the addition of hundreds of agents, task force officers, and prosecutors to support enforcement efforts– a critical component in the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Additional segments of the town hall included guests Wayne Newton; David and Jackie Siegel, owners of Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino; and Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University, and his wife, Becki. This event was an installment of a town hall series created by Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Liberty University.