Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-02-10

Duration: 00:27:55

Subjects: Drugs | Crime | Drug addiction | Drug dealers

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Day, Derrick Interviewee
• Sullivan, Charles Interviewee
• Hebert, Gordon Interviewee
• Selders, Kenneth Interviewee
• Cataldie, Louis Interviewee
• Oxley, Mark Interviewee
• Wilkerson, Julius Interviewee
• Nosacka, John Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from February 10, 1989, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on drug abuse in Louisiana. Lormand first reports on the week’s headlines. Next, Sockman reports on the growing drug abuse problem in Louisiana, including the increase in cocaine use. He interviews: Derrick Day, former drug user; Agent Charles Sullivan of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA); Gordon Hebert of the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office; Kenneth Selders, a former cocaine user; and Dr. Louis Cataldie of the Chemical Dependency Unit. Lormand then conducts an in-studio interview with: Captain Mark Oxley of the Louisiana State Police; Julius Wilkerson of the Velocity Foundation in New Orleans; and John Nosacka, a recovering drug addict. They discuss: the depth of the drug problem in Louisiana; the recovery process for drug addicts; drug culture; the penalties for drug possession; the importance of education and prevention; the resources needed by law enforcement to combat the problem; and the warning signs for parents.