U.S. Attorney David Joseph urges parents to attend parent drug prevention event at Byrd High School

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph urges parents to attend the “Let’s Talk about Prevention” program to be held Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at the C. E. Byrd High School auditorium in Shreveport.  Refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana (CADA) and the Caddo Parish School District to present the free event.  The program begins with the showing of the film “Chasing the Dragon:  The Life of an Opiate Addict,” followed by a panel discussion with the U.S. Attorney’s First Assistant Alexander C. Van Hook, Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Allison Bushnell, DEA Special Agent Will Green, CADA Executive Director Bill Rose, and Child/Family Psychiatrist Dr. Pamela McPherson. 

“The threat of opioids to our youth is real and growing,” Joseph stated. “I’m asking parents to attend this event so they can obtain the tools necessary to protect their children from this epidemic.  It is through education, awareness, and joining with law enforcement agencies, public and private organizations, and parents that we can help prevent the loss of life associated with this poison. Even if just one life is saved because of this program, it will have been a success.”

“Fentanyl is a newer synthetic opioid painkiller that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Drug dealers are adding fentanyl to heroin and to pills that look like other prescription drugs such as Xanax, which too often produces deadly results. The most important thing that parents can do is talk to their children about the dangers of these drugs and look for changes in their children’s lives. Education and awareness of the problem is key. That’s why the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA have been working closely with schools in the community to spread the word about the horrific consequences of addiction.”

“We created the ‘Let's Talk’ series to mash myths about addiction and educate our community about the prevalence of use across all social-economic sectors,” said CADA Executive Director Bill Rose. “We partnered with the U.S. Attorney's Office to produce this next parent prevention series in order to educate parents about the deadly impact of fentanyl use among adolescents and to provide resources for prevention.”

Reservations are helpful but not mandatory. Free CEHs will also be offered to addiction-specific professionals. To make a reservation or for more information, call CADA at 318-222-8511, email development@cadanwla.org or visit cadanwla.org. You can also call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 318-676-3600 and ask to speak to Tanya’ Porter.