Drug Overdose Summit in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Law enforcement, health professionals and addiction specialists from around the country will convene in Minnesota to talk about ways to address the growing number of opioid overdose deaths.
The two-day conference starts Wednesday. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger says the goal is to bring together authorities and industry experts to find solutions.
Rusty Payne, spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, says there is an opioid crisis in the U.S. Such drugs include heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers.
The Centers for Disease Control says fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were involved in 5,554 overdose deaths in 2014, a 79 percent increase over 2013.
Fentanyl is blamed in the April 21 overdose death of Prince.