The United States Attorney for Northern Ohio, which includes the Cleveland area, calls prescription drug abuse an epidemic in that state. Between the years 1999 and 2010, the rate for accidental death from drug poisoning in Ohio jumped by an astounding 372 percent. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently held a joint seminar with law enforcement agencies in Cleveland and other parts of Northern Ohio to discuss this problem. Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the DEA and the Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program were in attendance to learn more about ways to combat prescription drug abuse in the Cleveland area. This includes the counties of Lorrain, Cuyahoga and Summit as well as Cleveland’s surrounding suburbs.
Special DEA Prescription Drug Abuse Unit in Cleveland
Prescription drug abuse is such a big problem in Cleveland that the DEA has formed a special unit to investigate cases of prescription drug fraud. Called the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the unit includes four DEA agents, one FBI agent, and officers from the Lake County Narcotics Agency; the Akron Police Department; the Lorrain Police Department; the Cuyahoga, Summit and Lorrain County Sheriff’s Departments; and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. Cleveland also has had many “take-back” drug clinics in the area, in which residents can turn in unused and unwanted prescription drugs, no questions asked.
Drug Trends in Cleveland
In a 2009 report by the Ohio Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS), it was noted that certain drugs are abused more often in specific areas of Ohio. These include oxycodone, hydrocodone, and the ADHD drug Piperazine. A 2010 survey by ODADAS found that among Cleveland drug users, marijuana was the most popular drug, followed by alcohol, bath salts, prescription opioids, club drugs, heroin, powdered cocaine, and sedative hypnotics. Drug abusers in Cleveland stated that powdered cocaine was readily available in the Cleveland area, as was crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy and prescription opioids. Law enforcement officials cited heroin abuse as the most pressing problem in the Cleveland area at that time.
How to Become a DEA Agent in Cleveland
Cleveland lies within the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s Detroit Division. A Resident Office of this division exists in Cleveland. In order to become a DEA agent in Cleveland by meeting requirements, candidates are usually required to hold a college degree – a bachelor’s (minimum of 2.95 GPA), master’s or advanced law degree-unless they possesses specialized experience in drug investigations, in which case degree requirements are waived. For bachelor degree holders without a 2.95 GPA, specialized skills related to piloting, foreign languages, IT, financial auditing or engineering may be accepted. A full list of qualifications to become a DEA agent in Cleveland through training may be found here.
To learn about Cleveland DEA jobs, contact Special Agent Recruiter Christopher Taylor at (313) 234-4275.