Jeff Landry, Opioid Treatment Expansion, Louisiana 2024

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana legislature has finalized a sweeping expansion of drug and specialty courts, handing Attorney General Jeff Landry a major victory in his war against the opioid epidemic. SB 145, now awaiting Governor sign-off, clears the path for more arrestees to be evaluated for treatment instead of jail — a shift proponents say will break the cycle of addiction and crime.

The bill, pushed through by Senator Rick Ward and backed by Landry as Chairman of the Drug and Specialty Court Commission, passed in a bipartisan wave. Landry called the vote a direct strike at the heart of the opioid crisis, which has ravaged communities and overwhelmed courts and prisons. ‘This reform will reduce crime, reduce recidivism, and reduce drug abuse,’ Landry declared, emphasizing taxpayer savings and improved public safety.

SB 145 establishes a dedicated Drug and Specialty Court fund, financed by settlements from opioid manufacturers, marketers, and distributors who fueled the epidemic. These dollars will flow to state and local treatment programs, increasing capacity, access, and quality. Landry stressed the fund ensures ‘those who profited from poison now pay for recovery.’

The Attorney General marshaled a powerful coalition to craft the bill — including the Louisiana Supreme Court, Sheriffs Association, District Attorneys Association, Public Defenders Board, and Police Jury Association. The collaboration underscores a rare consensus: incarceration alone isn’t working. Instead, accountability paired with evidence-based treatment is the new frontline strategy.

Landry’s push extends beyond legislation. He’s sued pharmaceutical giants, secured free Naloxone for first responders, and launched the ‘End the Epidemic LA’ campaign with the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance. Drug take back boxes, deactivation pouches for hospice, and advocacy in Congress reveal a multi-pronged assault on opioid distribution and misuse.

‘The opioid epidemic rages on but so does my commitment to end it,’ Landry vowed. With SB 145’s final passage, Louisiana bets on rehabilitation over punishment — a policy shift aimed not just at reducing crime, but at saving lives one recovery at a time.

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