As you have read or heard in the news, the United States is facing a major
heroin and prescription opioid epidemic. Every night on the evening news,
local stories put faces on this national issue.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) takes this epidemic seriously.
Since 2002 it has been travelling a free 5,500 square foot,
exhibition: *Drugs:
Costs and Consequences*, that looks at the impact of illicit and abused
drugs.
Most Americans are unaware of the tremendous costs associated with the
production, sale, and use of illegal drugs. The costs to society—estimated
at more than $200 billion a year—are borne by all of us in some way.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans are not drug users, we
pay for users’ loss productivity, their health care, criminal justice
costs, child welfare costs, and the impact their drug use has on their own
health and safety.
*Drugs: Costs and Consequences* is designed to open eyes to the science
behind illegal drug addiction and the myriad costs of illegal drugs—to
individuals, American society and the world—and to provide food for thought
on how each and every one of us can make a difference. Drugs: Costs and
Consequences began a national tour in 2002. With newly expanded content and
a section specific to your area, the exhibit presents both a global and
historical overview of the many costs and consequences of drugs on society.
By targeting at-risk audiences such as elementary, middle, and high school
students, this exhibit provides critical information on the dangers of
drugs to young people who may never hear this information from any other
credible source. Many Americans are unaware of the documented damaging
effects of drug abuse on the mind and body. The exhibit not only showcases
the role and impact of federal and local drug law enforcement, but also
presents current neuroscience research designed to impart the knowledge and
create the understanding necessary to break the cycle of drug abuse.
Lessons learned from this exhibit provide a powerful stimulus in reducing
drug abuse among our nation’s youth.
To date, *Drugs: Costs and Consequences* has been visited by over 22
million students, teachers, and educators. An important component of the
exhibit is the “local story,” created specifically for your community. It
highlights the current struggles and trends regarding illegal drugs
throughout your region.
Due to budget cuts, many schools have little or no money for school buses
for field trips. That is why our partners will work with you to raise funds
to underwrite school buses for field trips to ensure the powerful message
contained in the exhibit is heard by those who need it most. We need to
make sure that our future—our children— will have every opportunity to view
the exhibit.
Wit Ostrenko, President & CEO, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in
Tampa, Florida, wrote, “This is the most important exhibition that MOSI has
ever done. Of the one million people that came to visit the science center,
this is the one. This is so important. As a scientist I can give you an
easy thing to remember. Drugs kill. Your heart stops then your brain dies.”
If you are interested in helping your community understand the entire
story, please consider hosting this exhibition. For more information,
please contact me at [log in to unmask]
Thanks.
Laurie A. Baty
Museum Director
W (202) 305-7298
F (202) 307-8956
www.dea.gov
www.deamuseum.org
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