Pawhuska, OK โ (February 19, 2020)โThe Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Services (OJS), Indian Police Academy (IPA) and Division of Drug Enforcement (DDE) held an Opioid and Heroin Awareness Community Outreach at 9:00 a.m. in the Osage Nation Law Building.
Special Agent Shawn Sheridan with the BIA and DDE gave an educational presentation about the Opioid/Heroin in Indian Country. The awareness demonstration included:
- Identification and Effects of Opioids/Heroin drugs
- Fentanyl and causes of overdoses
- Combating opioids/heroin at the community level
- Investigation and Prosecution of Opioid/Heroin drug cases
Special Agent Sheridan showed a video during his presentation that educated the public about the normal process a person goes through from prescription opioids to heroin addiction in a short matter of time.
The seminar was attended by community members, tribal employees, community stakeholders, and law enforcement. Osage News and KTUL 8 also attended the event. Nick Williams of Osage Nation Police Department commented about the outreach, โOpioid abuse is an epidemic that ignores cultural and political boundaries; it affects all of usโand thus demands a response that includes all of us.โ
To view Channel 8โs coverage of the event: https://ktul.com/news/local/osage-nation-hold-opioid-awareness-meeting
For more information about the Opioid Heroin Awareness Community Outreach, please contact the United States Indian Police Academy office at (505) 563-3800.
For more information about the Osage Nation Police Department, visit: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/what-we-do/law-enforcement-department