The Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli is in Knoxville, Tenn., today to announce new counties designated as part of the nationwide High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) program. The HIDTA program provides assistance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States.

Director Botticelli will also host a community forum on evidence-based programs to prevent and treat prescription drug abuse and heroin use. This is one of a series of forums across the country to continue the conversation that President Obama began in West Virginia in October, when he announced new public and private sector efforts to address the opioid overdose epidemic.

A livestream of the community forum will be held today.

SEE ALSO:

CADCA Statement on President Barack Obama’s Address on Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use