I am Cheri Oz, the Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division, and I’d like to welcome you to Operation Engage, Glendale!

As the Special Agent in Charge serving the State of Arizona, I remain committed to each of you, your families, and to our community. Across the country, non-fatal and fatal drug overdoses and poisonings continue to rise and nearly 70% are attributed opioids, such as fentanyl. These heartbreaking tragedies are happening again and again, every single day in the very communities where we live and work and raise our families.

In 2023, DEA Arizona seized over 42 million fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and the Sinaloa Drug Cartel is responsible for that tidal wave of poison flooding into Arizona. And in 2023, the DEA laboratory reported that 7 out of 10 of the pills seized contain a potential lethal dose. I promise you, DEA will not stop pursuing these criminal drug networks and bring them to justice. DEA remains focused on public safety and health and saving lives.

In response, DEA continues its comprehensive community-level collaborative approach Operation Engage, which focuses on reducing drug poisonings and saving lives through continuing drug education and awareness, prevention curriculum, online resources, school programs, and many other special events.

Through Operation Engage, the DEA Phoenix Division will focus our resources for a second year in Glendale, Arizona, targeting the opioid threat. Other components of Operation Engage will include:

Stakeholder/Community Gatherings: DEA Phoenix in partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Rise Up Coalition, will host a Town Hall forum on May 17th, 2024, to address the fentanyl crisis in Arizona. There will be more information in the coming weeks.

DEA Citizens Academy: DEA Phoenix is excited to bring a second DEA Citizens Academy to Glendale. This week-long training will be held in June 2024, with the goal to forge a strong alliance with the community and community leaders. Participants will get an in-depth look into the mission and work that the DEA does worldwide and how we can all work together in combating drug misuse and save lives.  

Youth Engagement:  Through a partnership with the DEA Educational Foundation, multiple after-school programs such as art, dance, and martial arts classes will be available to youth this fall. These programs are designed to promote healthy lifestyles/choices and remaining drug-free.

Community Outreach Programs:  DEA Phoenix in partnership with Rise Up Coalition and SheRay's and Associates will host a one-day Youth Summit this fall in Glendale, Arizona, with the goal to educate our youth and inspire them to take action within their communities and peer groups.

Please visit the Events section of this page for more events and details as they become available.

We cannot do this alone and we need your help to save lives. I invite you and your families to explore the many resources, programs, and opportunities offered by Operation Engage Glendale. Learning as a family, early on, is the first step in avoiding drug experimentation, drug misuse, drug addiction, and all related behaviors that are plaguing our communities.

Always at your service,

SAC Oz

Glendale Police Department
Police Chief Chris Briggs
6835 North 57th Drive
Glendale, AZ 85301
Phone: 623-930-3059

Rise Up Glendale Coalition
Director Brandi Jordan
Website: riseupglendale.org
Email: info@riseupglendale.org
Phone: 623-208-3230

Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
www.ojp.gov
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement
officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. 

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS): Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. SAMHSA promotes and implements prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in America’s communities. 

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) 
The mission of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention is to improve behavioral health through evidence-based prevention approaches.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) 
The mission of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is to promote community-based substance abuse treatment and recovery services for individuals and families in every community. CSAT provides national leadership to improve access, reduce barriers, and promote high quality, effective treatment and recovery services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov
CDC remains committed to advancing a public health approach to preventing drug overdose death and applies its scientific expertise to help curb the epidemic in three ways: improving data quality and surveillance to monitor and respond to the epidemic; strengthening state efforts by scaling up effective public health interventions; and equipping health care providers with the data and tools needed to improve the safety of their patients.

Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD)
https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/
The federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) works with state, territorial, and local governments and organizations to reduce and prevent underage drinking and its consequences. ICCPUD’s website, StopAlcoholAbuse.gov ,
provides the latest research and resources to support underage drinking prevention and relatedissues.

National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for Teens is a trusted source for science-based information on teen drug use and its effects. The website provides teens, teachers, and parents with information about the effects and consequences of drug use.

American Indian Science and Engineering Society
www.aises.org
Founded in 1977, growing the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) membership above our current 5,900 individual members is key to achieving our mission. AISES supports 230 affiliated pre-college schools, 196 chartered college and university chapters, 3 tribal chapters, and 18 professional chapters in the U.S. and Canada. AISES promotes the highest standards of education and professional excellence to widen the STEM workforce and grow sector support. We highlight the geographic, economic, and social aspects of STEM education and careers.

In addition to awarding nearly $12 million and counting in academic scholarships, AISES offers internships, professional development and career resources, national and regional conferences, leadership development summits, and other STEM-focused programming.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
www.cadca.org
CADCA is the premier membership organization representing those working to make their communities safe, healthy, and drug-free. CADCA has members in every U.S. state and territory and is working in 18 countries around the world. Special programs within CADCA are supporting returning veterans and their families and training youth leaders to be effective agents of change –all through the coalition model. Since 1992, CADCA has demonstrated that when all sectors of a community come together —social change happens. 

DEA Educational Foundation
http://www.deaeducationalfoundation.org/
Established in 2001, the DEA Educational Foundation educates the American public on the various costs and consequences of drugs on society, through support of the educational programs and exhibits of the DEA Museum and the operation of DEA Youth Dance Program in more than 30 cities around the country. 

Boys & Girls Clubs
www.bgca.org
The mission of Boys and Girls Clubs is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. A Boys & Girls Club provides: a safe place to learn and grow; ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals; and life-enhancing programs and character development experiences. Their community-based Delinquency and Gang Prevention/Intervention Initiative targets young people ages 6 to 18 that are at high risk for involvement or are already involved with delinquency and gangs. These youth and teens are directed to positive alternatives and learn about violence prevention. 

Partnership to End Addiction
www.drugfree.org
Founded in 1987 as an anti-drug advertising campaign and formerly known as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and helping families impacted by addiction. The Partnership to End Addiction translates the science of teen drug use and addiction for families, providing parents with direct support to prevent and cope with teen drug and alcohol abuse. On their website, families can find the information they need to understand the ever-changing drug landscape, which now includes abuse of prescription drugs. In addition to support and resources for parents, Partnership reaches youth directly through teen-targeted efforts.

Just Think Twice
www.justthinktwice.com
This is a resource for teens. It provides facts about drugs, news and media campaigns, true stories, the consequences of drug use, facts and stats, and information about living drug free.  

Operation Prevention
www.operationprevention.com/
The DEA and Discovery Education have created Operation Prevention to provide communities with proactive digital tools to raise awareness about the dangers of substance misuse. This resource is free and is available in English and Spanish for students in grades 3-12, plus additional resources designed for educators, families, and professionals. There are workplace
resources for businesses, and The Good Medicine Bundle is a culture-based prevention resource to help address the opioid crisis for American Indian communities.

Go to FindTreatment.gov to search for general drug treatment facilities in your area. On this site, you can find facilities that offer various payment options (including free and no-cost care), youth treatment facilities, special programs for Veterans, plus more.

Otherwise, enter your zipcode below to find substance abuse treatment facilities in your area.