Recent News
Crime Reduction Plan for New Orleans
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, with murder and drug abuse rampant in New Orleans, OHL developed a white paper that discussed a plan for reducing crime in the city through substance abuse treatment, a resource that the City of New Orleans underfunds and rarely utilizes to its advantage. Now, 12 years after the storm, New Orleans is still inundated with violent crime and has a new foe that is rapidly killing its citizens: the opioid epidemic. OHL has updated its white paper to discuss how the city can reduce violent crime and drug use through a drug demand model that links prevention providers, treatment services, the criminal justice system and the community at-large to effectively reduce the violent crime and recidivism rates in New Orleans.
Many New Orleans agencies and offices are struggling with the city’s crime and addiction issues. These are serious issues that affect every single citizen, even those not engaged in these activities. These problems affect our tourism, our public safety, our public health and our economy.
The current approach to minimizing violent crime and addiction simply does not work. A new approach is needed and needed with the full support of the city. A demand-reduction model will not only encourage healthier and more productive citizens, but it also has the potential to realize significant cost-benefits. Only by addressing the correct crux of the crime issue by focusing on demand can New Orleans achieve its full potential. By creating a demand reduction system in New Orleans, Louisiana can set up a model that can be replicated in other cities throughout the State, and possibly the nation.
Read the full white paper here.