The Department of Justice on Thursday announced what Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the "largest healthcare fraud takedown operation in American history."

By working with inner Justice Department offices and the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government charged 412 defendants accused of defrauding taxpayers of roughly $1.3 billion. The charges included 56 doctors, Session said.

Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe said at a press conference Thursday that 29 bureau field offices around the country were involved, with an assist from more than 300 agents.

"The nation is in the midst of a crisis. Opioid abuse destroys lives," he said.

At least 120 of those charged were charged for their roles in "prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics."

"Last year, an estimated 59,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, many linked to the misuse of prescription drugs. This is, quite simply, an epidemic," said Acting Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.

In talking to reporters, Sessions echoed his message from a speech earlier in the week, citing the government's prior so-called "War on Drugs."

According to Sessions, working together and "prevention" are the keys to stopping the drug epidemic.

"This rising drug use — crime is rising with it — […] at a rate we've never ever seen before," he said, later adding. "Preventing addiction is the most important thing we can do."

"We need to have a reinforced message to stay away from these drugs," Sessions said, alluding to the drug war of the 1980s and 90s, which he added worked.

In a speech Tuesday, Sessions touted the decades-old Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, or DARE, even though it has been panned by many as failing to achieve any meaningful results. He also again connected a rise in crime to the current drug problems sweeping the country.