On June 17, 2025, the DEA Detroit Field Division, in partnership with the DEA Educational Foundation and local nonprofit Facing Fentanyl, hosted a Workplace Engagement/Drug Education Seminar in Toledo, Ohio. Held at the Glass City Pavilion, part of Toledo’s Parks and Recreation facilities, the event aimed to help professionals identify and respond to substance use in the workplace—and to extend that awareness beyond office walls and into their communities.

The free seminar was coordinated by Amy Danos, Director of Special Events and Grant Management with DEAEF, in collaboration with Wendie Jackson, Community Outreach Specialist with DEA Detroit, and the team at Facing Fentanyl. The Toledo-based organization helped drive attendance by engaging local business and community contacts.

The seminar drew a strong group of engaged attendees from across the Toledo business community, representing a variety of local companies and organizations committed to creating healthier, drug-aware workplaces. Attendees received coffee, dessert, printed prevention materials, and left with a Stanley tumbler featuring the Operation Engage logo—a lasting reminder of the event's message and mission.

The afternoon was packed with expert speakers and presentations designed to offer both insight and action:

Welcome Remarks were delivered by Thomas Gergye, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division, who set the tone for the afternoon by highlighting the urgency and relevance of workplace prevention efforts.

Catie Drew, Senior Prevention Program Manager with the DEA’s Community Outreach and Prevention Support Section, presented the DEA Operation Prevention Workplace Module, offering practical guidance and resources designed for implementation in professional environments.

Steve Murphy, the DEA agent portrayed in the hit series Narcos, followed with a powerful talk on The Importance of Drug Prevention and the Dangers of Fake Pharmacies, bringing real-world gravity to the issue of counterfeit medications.

Michael Fiore, Outreach Specialist with Facing Fentanyl, led a virtual session on Recognizing and Minimizing Substance Use in the Workplace, helping attendees identify warning signs and create more responsive environments.

The final presentation, Illicit Drugs and Safety in the Workplace, was delivered by Andrea Thomas, Founder and President of Facing Fentanyl, alongside Adrienne Sautter, the organization’s Operations and Media Director. Their session emphasized not just the health impact of drug use, but its potential implications for workplace safety and liability.

Participant Reflections Highlight Seminar's Impact

Attendees expressed appreciation for the depth and authenticity of the presentations. “I found all of the guest speakers to be both informative and engaging,” shared Araya, while another participant noted, “The presenters were absolutely great!”

Several attendees were particularly moved by the real-life experiences shared throughout the day. “I think having a speaker in recovery such as Michael Fiore is extremely beneficial,” added Araya. Liam observed, “Nearly every presenter has a personal relationship to the issue, creating a valuable relation and empathy to the issue.”

Others emphasized the importance of spreading this knowledge. “Very informative, and I wish everyone could attend to learn,” wrote John B. And one attendee summed up the day’s message with powerful simplicity: “Being shown just how much fentanyl is in the States is really eye opening.”

DEA included coverage of this seminar in their newsletter, and early interest from other regions indicates this model may be replicated in other cities across the country.

With a strong partnership between federal agencies and local organizations, the Toledo seminar was a promising step toward broader national engagement around workplace drug education and prevention.