In the midst of the opioid epidemic, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration are teaming up to try and educate people about the dangers that come with these drugs.
At The Loft Cinema on Monday evening, they put on a public, free screening of their joint film called, "Chasing the Dragon:The Life of an Opiate Addict."
"It's a problem that is significant throughout the country," FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steven Patterson said. "And it seems to only be increasing."
While the main audience is students and younger adults, the FBI and DEA hope everyone will come away from the screening with a better understanding of how quickly people can become addicted to these drugs, and what that addiction can lead to.
Tonight, learn more about the Opioid Epidemic, and how dangerous drug addiction can get, thanks to the @FBI & @DEAHQ. 7pm @ the Loft, free. @kgun9 #opioids pic.twitter.com/J3gROs0TnB
— Max Darrow (@MaxDarrowTV) May 15, 2018
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen McGuigan was also at the showing. He expressed that the current Opioid epidemic is like nothing the DEA has seen before.
"We haven't seen this uptick in the amount of Fentanyl, Heroin, and Opioid crises that we've seen in the last few years," McGuigan said. "We haven't seen this before, no we haven't."
Both McGuigan and Patterson hope people who watch the film will have a better understanding of how serious this problem is. They would like students and young adults to take the time to watch it as well, and for people who work with them to encourage them to educate themselves.
"When we hear that someone overdosed, that's somebody's child, somebody's brother, somebody's sister, somebody's father, mother," Patterson said. "It affects everybody."
After the film, there was a panel discussion, where people will have the chance to ask questions. The panelists included ASAC McGuigan and ASAC Patterson, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Richard Carmona, Dr. Lenn Ditmanson, and Neal Cash.
