New law aims to prevent disguised fentanyl distribution in Ouachita Parish

MONROE, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) — One of the laws that went into effect at the beginning of August aims to prevent the disguised distribution of fentanyl in Louisiana.

In Ouachita Parish, 9 people have died from fentanyl overdose just this year. In 2023, 39 fatalities were reported in reference to fentanyl.

Doug Schmitz, Commander at Metro Narcotics, says that many fentanyl dealers will press fentanyl into pills to make it appear as prescription medication.

Legislation did the same thing back in the 90s in reference to heroin, and it really curbed a lot of the distribution of heroin. Almost a non existence in the state. Hopefully, this law will do the same thing.

Doug Schmitz, Commander | Metro Narcotics

With the school year beginning this month, children and young adults can easily fall victim to fentanyl overdose, especially if it is being disguised as candy.

Schmitz says that children will often go to school with a headache or something similar, and can easily take what appears to be medicine, but can quickly turn deadly.

Do not take that; you do not know what’s in it. You don’t know if it has fentanyl in it. We have seen cases where just one pill contains enough fentanyl to kill that individual.

Doug Schmitz, Commander | Metro Narcotics

The law went into effect on August 1st.

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