Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry was on hand Tuesday morning to help announce a new drug take-back box that Iberia Parish residents can use to get rid of old or unneeded opioids, joining the residents of 57 other parishes with similar programs.
“We have done something which allows for every citizen in our state to do their part,” Landry said. “Because statistics show that more than half of patients prescribed opioid painkillers have or expect to have extra pills left over and that 60 percent of opioid misusers begin their addictions by taking the prescriptions of others, we have placed drug take back boxes in sheriff’s offices and police departments throughout Louisiana.”
“The box is available to residents of Iberia Parish at the (IPSO) Patrol Division office,” Iberia Parish Sheriff Tommy Romero said. “It takes us and the general public to keep these drugs away from teens and young children who might be thinking of experimenting with these dangerous drugs.”
According to Monica Taylor, a representative of Landry’s office, there are currently 72 of those boxes around the state in 57 parishes.
“Most of those were put in place with a federal grant in 2015,” Taylor said. “This is a new partnership with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.”
Lamdry said that the opioid addiction issue in Louisiana is not just a political talking point. He said the problem is a deadly one that has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
