Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: Heroin abuse is an epidemic in America. The abuse and the resulting overdoses and deaths from the drug are impacting our country’s inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

Four out of five recent heroin users start as prescription drug abusers. When their prescription runs out, they turn to heroin—which produces the same high for less money.

The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration work closely together to take down those who traffic heroin—from the transnational cartels to the dirty doctors and pharmacies to the street dealers.

DEA Special Agent Joseph Moses…

Joseph Moses: More DEA special agents than at any other time in the agency’s history are working on prescription drug diversion efforts. We’re using all of our tools to go after the criminals who facilitate addiction across the country.

Halpern: The FBI addresses this epidemic in many ways. FBI Special Agent Chris Tremblay…

Chris Tremblay: One way is through our Safe Streets Initiative, which has 164 task forces aggressively working to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises like violent street gangs. These gangs are engaged in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs and heroin in our communities.

Halpern: You can help stop the threat: Clean out your medicine cabinet.

Properly dispose of your unwanted or expired prescription at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in your area on September 26. Find a location near you at www.dea.gov. I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, with FBI, This Week.