2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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 Opioid

DEA will provide a law enforcement overview of the current state of the burgeoning heroin and opioid crisis within the State of Utah. Among a multitude of topics to be discussed, the presentation will address the current trends of prescription pill abuse; the availability and impact of street-level heroin; the influx of the deadly synthetic drug fentanyl; and the advent of dangerous counterfeit tableting operations. Robust discussion will be encouraged about the contributing factors which seem to further the local opioid epidemic, as well as draw attention to several proposed solutions and community initiatives which are currently in place to mitigate the problem. Those who attend will leave with an unvarnished view of how grave the crisis really is within our neighborhoods, yet through discussion, find a renewed interest in becoming part of a grass-roots solution to help.


Presenter: Brian Besser

Brian Besser currently serves as the DEA District Agent in Charge of the State of Utah. Agent Besser is responsible for overseeing all of DEA’s administrative and enforcement efforts throughout the state’s twenty-nine counties; he also serves as the Commander of the Metro Narcotics Task Force – a multi-agency partnership comprised of over fifteen local, state, and federal law enforcement organizations. During his 27 year career, Agent Besser has served in both federal and local law enforcement positions with assignments in Greenville, South Carolina; Syracuse, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Washington D.C., and Salt Lake City, Utah. As a field agent Mr. Besser functioned as a subject matter expert for clandestine laboratory operations and threat assessment. While assigned to DEA Headquarters, Agent Besser managed DEA’s global program responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining functional emergency preparedness and Continuity of Operations. Agent Besser holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bob Jones University and is completing his Master of Divinity with Maranatha Seminary. He is the father of triplet daughters who he refuses to let grow-up.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

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Nonfinancial -