East Baton Rouge Parish has been hard hit by the opioid epidemic. In 2021, our parish lost 311 lives to accidental overdoses. And for every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more non-fatal overdoses that take their own toll on a person’s health and well-being.

Yet for many individuals struggling with opioid addiction, help—and hope—can seem elusive. Only 1 in 10 of those who face a substance use addiction is in treatment.

As our communities deal with the opioid epidemic and reduce overdose deaths, our focus needs to be on reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder and providing the treatment options people need for recovery.