GENERAL NOTES

Please refer to immediate practical matters for additional urgent needs and concerns. This section gives a quick overview of specific types of crimes or incidents that you may have experienced. At the end of each section is a list of related resources under Agencies involved.

Contact info for agencies involved is in RESOURCES.

Fatal Drug Overdoses

(Not a crime, but sometimes associated with criminal charges)

In recent years, U.S. drug overdose deaths have increased to historic levels, surpassing 100,000 overdoses in 2021. Many of these deaths involve fentanyl, a synthetic opioid frequently mixed into street drugs.

In 2021, the Orleans Parish Coroner reported to the New Orleans City Council that there were 492 accidental drug-related deaths, which was twice the homicide rate. Of these victims, 94% tested positive for fentanyl and about 60% involved cocaine

[Source: 2021 Coroner’s Report on Accidental Drug-Related Deaths in New Orleans, neworleanscoroner.com].

Decades of criminalization of drug use have led to stigma and the fear of prosecution among drug users. Often, in the event of an overdose, bystanders may choose to leave the scene due to past negative interactions with first responders.

Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law was recently changed to offer more protections to those at the scene of an overdose to encourage individuals to provide life-saving aid, including calling first responders.

There are 4 Fire Stations across New Orleans that provide free Narcan, which can sometimes reverse opioid overdoses, without any questions asked.

• Call first to check they have supplies available

• To reach each fire station call: (504) 658-4700

• Locations: 2920 Magazine St / 317 Decatur St / 5401 Read Blvd / 2500 General DeGaulle Dr

• If you see an unresponsive person, call 911 or get professional help

• For those struggling with substance use, go to https://vialink.org/or call 2-1-1

Agencies involved: NOPD (could be various departments involved); Coroner’s Office; Orleans District Attorney’s Office DA (if there is an arrest); Possible federal agencies including DEA, FBI, US Attorney (some cases); NO Health Dept.

Suicide

(Not a crime, but sometimes associated with criminal charges)

Suicide, while not a crime, involves many of the same issues and concerns included in other areas of this book.

• Call 988 for their Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

If you, or someone you love, seems to suffer with suicidal ideation (thoughts of ending your life), please get psychological assistance and call a hotline (or 988).

• There are grief support groups specifically dealing with this [See Support Groups].

Make sure any guns are safely locked away. https://preventfirearmsuicide.efsgv.org/states/louisiana/

Agencies involved: NOPD; Coroner’s Office; Call 988 or 1 (800) 273-TALK [8255]; Text “strength” to 741741; or visit the website https://988lifeline.org/; Survivors of Suicide Loss; The Trevor Project