DEA recognizes that not only reducing the quantity (supply) of drugs is essential to a safe and drug free country, but also reducing the desire (demand) for illicit drugs is a vital component to effectively reduce drug use in our Nation. For that reason, DEA created the Community Outreach Section as a critical complement to our primary law enforcement mission and included drug use prevention as one of the seven priorities in DEA’s vision.
Our area of responsibility includes the entire state of New Mexico and 17 counties of West Texas, to include, El Paso, Midland, Alpine, and the Big Bend area to name a few. DEA’s Community Outreach strategy is to develop and disseminate effective drug information for youth, parents, caregivers, and educators, and to increase the public’s awareness about the dangers associated with using drugs.
There are three major concepts of drug use prevention research at the core of this strategy:
Parents and teens alike need to know that the brain continues to develop to age 25. In particular, the frontal cortex, which carries out mental processes such as thinking, decision making, and judgment, is not fully developed until that age; therefore, it’s vitally important that youth and young adults refrain from drug use as this use will affect brain development.
When youth and young adults perceive that drug use is harmful and risky, drug use dramatically declines.
The longer youth and young adults delay drug use, addiction and/or substance use disorders are significantly reduced.
DEA provides essential information about the harmful effects of illicit drug use through our educational materials and five websites.
Just Think Twice – DEA’s website for teens, www.justthinktwice.gov, provides credible information about the harmful effects of drug use.
Get Smart About Drugs – DEA’s website for parents, guardians and educators, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov, provides valuable drug education information for parents, educators, and caregivers to further help identify drug use, drug paraphernalia, warning signs of drug use, and the harmful side effects of the most commonly abused drugs.
This is where you can find all of our existing publications. You can order as much as you want for free. Just let me know which publications you want, how many, and where I should send them to.
Campus Drug Prevention – www.campusdrugprevention.gov is DEA’s latest effort to support drug misuse prevention programs on college campuses and in surrounding communities.
One Pill Can Kill – https://www.dea.gov/onepill is DEA’s awareness campaign to share the dangers of fake pills and “fentapills” that are out on the street and social media.
Operation Prevention – https://www.operationprevention.com/ is DEA’s award-winning curriculum website where you can find lesson plans for 3rd grade through 12th grade about substance use awareness. It is evidence-informed and is a very science-focused and prevention-centered program. It meets four National Standards of Learning. This curriculum might help fill in any gaps you might have with Tucker’s Law (if any).
We have a focused culture-based prevention resource that uses the wisdom of Native practices of wellness combined with the insights of modern science to help Native and non-Native students avoid the dangers of substance misuse. These lessons are for elementary and middle school students. These hands-on, standards-aligned resources empower students to embrace positive and holistic health practices and gain an understanding of modern and historical Native approaches to wellness.
2026 Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OPgrlASUT8SSz8Eqh3hIgQ
**Register Once Per Year and Your Registration Link Will Work For All Future Events**