Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2016-04-27

Duration: 00:58:05

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Drug addiction | Drugs | NARCOTICS | HEROIN | Health Care | Mental Health | Drug rehabilitation | Opioids

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Courtney, Bob Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Spires, Kelly Producer
• Clark, Beau Interviewee
• Cataldie, Louis Interviewee
• Weisbrod, Travis Interviewee
• Rainwater, Chelsea Interviewee
• Klingman, Brandy Interviewee
• Basco, Anthony Speaker
• Solar, Mildred Speaker
• Champagne, Mike Speaker
• Blanche, Fred Speaker
• Mangham, Barry Speaker
• Smith, Diane Speaker
• Rainwater, Chelsea Speaker
• Rose, Bill Speaker
• Hidalgo, Don Speaker
• Bailey, Manny Speaker
• Koch, Cory Speaker
• Hood, Kim Speaker
• Collins, Eugene Speaker
• Koch, Patricia Speaker
• Washington, Tara Speaker
• Head-Dunham, Rochelle Panelist
• White, Victor, Sr. Panelist
• Kinamore, Logan Panelist
• Stutes, Keith Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 27, 2016, features Bob Courtney leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the growing opiate addiction epidemic in Louisiana. A background report on opiate addiction, which includes prescription painkillers and heroin, precedes the discussion. The audience members, including counselors, recovered drug addicts, and the family members of drug addicts, discuss how the community can tackle the problem of opiate addiction, their personal experiences with drug addiction, and the available treatment options. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham, the medical director of the Metropolitan Human Services District in New Orleans; Victor White, Sr., a counselor with the Cenla Community Awareness Program in Pineville; Logan Kinamore, the founder of No Overdose Baton Rouge; and Keith Stutes, the district attorney for the 15th Judicial District in Acadia, Lafayette, and Vermilion Parishes. They discuss: whether opiate addiction is a crisis in Louisiana; the harm reduction and medication-assisted therapy treatment models; a drug user’s fear of going to prison; Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law; the stigma associated with drug addicts; the need for increased time in treatment facilities; the need to treat drug addiction as a chronic disease and a public health emergency; the recent budget cuts to treatment facilities; and the need for more public awareness of the epidemic. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Bob Courtney