NEW ORLEANS, LA – Continuing his efforts to
educate Louisiana students about the growing opioid epidemic and encourage
healthy decision-making, Attorney General Jeff Landry participated in the first
annual South Louisiana Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness at the University of
New Orleans Lakefront Arena. His prepared remarks to the thousands of middle
and high school students in attendance are as follows:
"Thank you, Brad, for
all you and the DEA are doing to make Louisiana safer. And thank you, Jim, and
the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation for this wonderful event.
I am Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s Attorney General. But more
importantly, I am a father to a son who just started high school.
As the AG, I
see the dangers and disasters of the opioid epidemic. And as a dad, I know the
pressures y’all face at school and in your neighborhoods.
Today, I want to be sure you understand how important it
is that you only take medicine prescribed directly to you by your doctor and
filled at a legitimate pharmacy.
You see, many illegally obtained prescription
drugs are counterfeits. Whether bought on line, on campus, or on the street –
most of these counterfeits are laced with deadly substances.
How many of you have heard of the rapper Mac Miller? How many of
you know that he died of an overdose from taking a counterfeit opioid that was
laced with fentanyl?
As Mac Miller learned the hard way, it is nearly
impossible to tell the difference between counterfeit drugs and real
medications. You see – it only takes one; there are no second chances.
Please check out www.EndTheEpidemicLA.org to learn
more. Thank you!"