MIDLAND, Texas —
Incoming Special Agent In Charge Towanda Thorne-James for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, which serves West Texas and New Mexico, said fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to be a major issue in the Midland-Odessa area.
Thorne-James wants to continue the work of assisting local law enforcement in Midland-Odessa as much as possible and help address the issue of substance abuse through community outreach.
“Fentanyl is in everything from methamphetamine to heroin and cocaine," Thorne-James said. "We are dealing with overdose poisonings. It is our number one priority to combat the overdose deaths and save American lives.”
According to the Springboard Center in Midland, nowadays certain drugs aren’t seen in as bad of a light as others by those struggling with addiction. This leads to deadly consequences.
“The biggest thing we’re seeing is what we call 'California Sobriety.' 'So I’m off meth, but I’m going to smoke dope everyday. I’m not an addict, I’m using Xanax or meth or kratom,’" David Chancellor, executive director of the Springboard Center, said. "So that continues the addiction in another way.”
Chancellor said, like all good things, ending the cycle of addiction starts with you and your family. Keeping each other educated and aware of the risks is half the battle.
It’s an approach that the DEA can get behind as well.
“I would ask that you help us in our efforts by speaking to your family members, your children and making them aware of fentanyl and counterfeit pills," Thorne-James said. "I’d like to stress that you should never take a pill or medication that was not prescribed to you by a physician or your pharmacist.”