Bristol County, Mass., designated ‘High Density Drug Trafficking Area’

TAUNTON – Bristol County is one of 14 newly designated counties in 10 states that have been named High Density Drug Trafficking Areas, according to Michael Botticelli, director of the National Drug Control Policy.

According to a press release issued Thursday, the designation will allow local agencies to benefit from ongoing HIDTA-coordinated initiatives to reduce drug use nationwide.
“With the designation of new counties as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, we are enhancing the ability of federal, state and local authorities to coordinate drug enforcement operations, and improve public health and safety,” Botticelli said in a statement. “The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program is an important part of this administration’s work to expand community-based efforts to prevent drug use, pursue ‘smart on crime’ approaches to drug enforcement, work to reduce overdose deaths, increase access to treatment and support millions of Americans in recovery.”
Created by Congress in 1988, there are currently 28 HIDTAS across the country. The program helps coordinate federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug trafficking regions of the United States.
Last August, the Office of National Drug Control Policy announced additional funding for HIDTAS, including a new partnership among five regional HIDTA programs – Appalachia, New England, Philadelphia/Camden, New York/New Jersey and Washington/Baltimore – to address the severe heroin threat facing those communities through public health-public safety partnerships in 15 states.
This HIDTA Heroin Response Strategy focuses on a network of public health-public safety partnerships to address the heroin and opioid epidemic, the release said.

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