Attorney General Mike
DeWine
Heroin
Recognition and
Investigation Training for Law Enforcement Begins
(LONDON, Ohio) -- Ohio
Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that new training
developed to assist law enforcement officers in the fight against the
heroin epidemic is now available.
Ninety-four officers
representing 48 agencies from 24 counties attended the "Heroin
Epidemic: Recognition and Investigation" training provided by
the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio, Wednesday.
The free training was
developed after data gathered by Attorney General DeWine last year
revealed a 107-percent increase in heroin overdose deaths among more
than half of Ohio's counties.
"We believe that
heroin is now in every community in this state. People from every
walk of life are getting addicted, and it is tearing families apart,"
said Attorney General DeWine. "This training will help make
sure law enforcement has the most up-to-date information on fighting
and preventing heroin abuse, which will be especially beneficial for
communities where heroin is still a relatively new problem."
The training addresses
topics such as the extent of the heroin problem in Ohio, recent
trends in abuse and trafficking, demographics of new heroin users,
investigative strategies, and relevant legal issues.
The course also puts focus
on heroin use and trafficking in high school environments and
includes presentations from a prevention expert, a mother of an
overdose victim, and a former heroin addict.
Additional training
sessions will be held in the Toledo, Cincinnati, and Cleveland areas
next month.
The "Heroin Epidemic:
Recognition and Investigation" training is part of a new,
multi-pronged effort to fight heroin abuse and trafficking that was
launched by Attorney General DeWine last year. Attorney General
DeWine also expanded his office's drug prevention efforts and formed
a new Heroin Unit to assist local law enforcement in targeting high
level drug traffickers.
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