DEA teams with Washington Redskins to tackle opioid addiction

WASHINGTON (October 9) -- The DEA and the Washington Redskins announced today that they will team up to spread awareness about the ongoing opioid epidemic through a new campaign. This campaign will include public service announcements throughout the month of October and culminate in an epic game-day sponsored event during the October 20th Redskins' homecoming game, complete with DEA Special Agents, a DEA helicopter, on-field interviews with special guests like Clinton Portis and Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon, as well as promotional giveaways.

 “We are pleased to partner with the Washington Redskins and WMAL to bring more public attention to the opioid crisis across our area,” said Jesse Fong, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Washington Division. “We are hopeful that nights like this and the awareness it brings will make for safer and healthier communities across the DMV.”

DEA Washington invites the public and the media to participate in this event by both taking part in and hosting promotions for DEA’s Red Ribbon campaign, National Take Back day on October 26th, and by attending and covering October 20th’s Redskins event at FedEx field. 
From now until October 20th, the Redskins and the DEA are working together to create fun and engaging public service announcements for the campaign, to include promotions for October's Red Ribbon campaign and National Take Back day on October 26, 2019 across the area. In addition, the DEA will be a game-day sponsor for the homecoming game on October 20th, 2019.

Starting at 11:00am EST, the DEA will be setup outside the Pepsi Gate at FedExField with a helicopter from their Air Wing, a DEA Clan Lab truck with STEM displays, meet and greet tables with special agents and analysts, and promotional wearables and giveaways. During the game, the event will continue inside with special guests, on-field interviews, informational tables, meet and greets with DEA Washington agents and staff, and end-of-game giveaways.

The DEA launched their Red Ribbon campaign for the month of October, yesterday, with the help of the First Lady, Breaking Bad’s Dean Norris, DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillion and many more heads of agencies. This campaign is being pushed by DEA's Washington Division in cities throughout the National Capital Region to help keep local kids and families safe from the dangers of drug abuse and to help end the opioid epidemic in our area.