6. The Partnership: Law Enforcement and the Medical Community

The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal agency charged with preventing, detecting, and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals. However, their work doesn’t end here… They are an agency committed to supporting the local healthcare community and they’re doing this through the education and increased, awareness about drug diversion and the Opioid Epidemic. For medical professionals like doctors and practitioners, the DEA aims to promote their relationship with them as partners, working together in the fight against opioid trafficking and misuse. In this segment, we hear from DEA officials on their support for the needs of patients and their doctors’ medical decisions, and gain insight on how the DEA works to balance public health and safety with a commitment to making sure doctors can treat their patients without interference.
ABOUT THIS SEGMENT
This segment was produced as part of ‘The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action’ a news and current affairs-style program designed to raise awareness of effective practices communities are using to stem and reverse the epidemic produced in collaboration by the AMA Alliance (AMAA) and ITN Productions. The program aims to highlight the commitment of the government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and AMA Alliance community to work towards solutions on the most pressing issues in addressing solutions for patients enhancing comprehensive treatment and support for substance use disorders, public education and training that helps to both tackle the epidemic and end the stigma, and misperceptions associated with having a substance use disorder. ‘The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action’ features interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles of leaders and key organizations, who are working to end the Nation’s opioid epidemic.