United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RICHMOND, Va. – Over 160 law enforcement, medical, education, and community services professionals gathered today at Virginia Commonwealth University for the Silent No More Overdose Symposium.

“The coming together of this highly respected and accomplished group of professionals is incredibly impressive, but there is still much more work to be done,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia G. Zachary Terwilliger. “We must remain vigilant in our enforcement efforts, continue to raise awareness in our communities, educate our children on the dangers of illicit narcotics, and work across the entire suite of law enforcement efforts to keep these dangerous drugs from hitting the streets.”

The symposium brought together law enforcement, Diversion, and Intelligence experts from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Virginia State Police, New Jersey State Police, and Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; and Medical and education experts from VCU Medical Center, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Virginia Poison Center, Virginia State Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Forensic Science, Department of Veterans Affairs, and others.

“Today is the time to engage our individual expertise and capabilities in order to benefit the greater good of Virginia,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, superintendent of the Virginia State Police. “No single one of us has all the answers. We have to collectively find new solutions to the opioid crisis, and find new ways to help one another so we can save more lives, and ultimately, save our communities.”

The symposium featured expert panels focused on the development of cross-jurisdictional multi-disciplinary working groups, the impact on emergency rooms and morgues, fatal drug overdose trends and statewide epidemiology statistics, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area management coordination, opioid overdose surveillance, data sharing platforms, and several others.

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