The substances may change and the methods may evolve, but understanding where drug threats come from, the ways they reach communities and the impact they leave behind remains essential for effective responses.

Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Executive Director Dan Neill explored those issues during a recent Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse Free Environments meeting, discussing overdose tracking and response efforts as well as illegal marijuana trafficking.

Midwest HIDTA works across seven states, including Missouri, bringing together federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate drug-control efforts and share information and intelligence.

Neill explained the organization also offers programs, services and assistance, emphasizing the importance of agencies and organizations working together.

“We’re all in this together, one way or another and we have to work together,” said Neill.

One of the programs Neill highlighted was the Overdose Detection Mapping…