District attorneys from several eastern Pennsylvania counties, along with federal authorities and the state attorney general, have formed a task force to combat the rising death toll attributed to opioid overdoses in the region.

The acting U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, Louis D. Lappen, announced on Thursday afternoon the creation of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Opioid Task Force. The organization is geared toward prosecuting pill mill doctors and drug pushers while offering the chance for addicts to get clean through rehab and diversionary programs.