AG Jeff Landry Secures
Drug Take Back Boxes at Sheriff Offices
LAFAYETTE, LA – Continuing his efforts to fight opioid abuse, misuse, and
addiction – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry today joined Lafayette Parish
Sheriff Mark Garber and St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz to announce
drug take back box locations in Acadiana.
Earlier this year, General Landry partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Louisiana (BCBSLA) and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
to establish safe and secure locations for residents to drop off their unused
or expired prescription drugs – rather than having them in their homes, easily
accessible to experimenters or addicts.
“Fighting the opioid epidemic takes a
multi-dimensional approach, and I am grateful to have law enforcement partners
standing with me to tackle this devastating and deadly problem,” said General
Landry. “I am thankful for the Sheriffs in Acadiana helping us to get
unnecessary drugs out of medicine cabinets and away from those who may misuse
them.”
“I am very pleased with this cooperative program
between the Louisiana Attorney General's Office and the Lafayette Parish
Sheriff¹s Office,” said Sheriff Garber. “I believe this program will help keep
prescription drugs off the street and out of the hands of people who may abuse
them.”
“I am happy and honored to partner with Attorney
General Jeff Landry and Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber on the very
important task of fighting this opioid epidemic in Acadiana,” said Sheriff
Guidroz. “The abuse of these medications has dire implications for everyone in
our Parish and State; and we hope that by facilitating the proper disposal of
unused or expired opioids, we can help to bring this problem under control.”
“We’ve been working with Attorney General Landry and
law enforcement agencies around the state to get secure drug drop boxes
installed in more parishes, and we’re pleased to bring these boxes to the
Acadiana area,” said Michael Tipton, head of community relations for BCBSLA and
president of the Blue Cross Foundation. “This is a safe way for area residents
to get rid of their unused and expired prescription drugs, which can prevent
them from being stolen or abused.”
General Landry also plans to have additional drug take back boxes in Acadia and
Vermilion Parishes soon.
“Sheriff Kip Gibson and Sheriff Mike Couvillon are
working with our office to place boxes in their Parishes in the near future,”
added General Landry. “And I hope to have at least one in every Parish
throughout the State.”
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The locations of the drug take back boxes in
Louisiana may be found at www.EndTheEpidemicLA.org.
