It’s no easy feat leaving the balmy 70 degree weather of New Orleans for northern climates, but leave we must. Sitting on a flight headed toward Washington D.C., we met fellow passenger William Beach, director of external relations for DEA Education Foundation. Mr. Beach was impressed to hear that our alumni had organized to help with the New Orleans recovery.
Like any major city, New Orleans struggles with a drug problem. But since Hurricane Katrina that problem has taken on new proportions as cheap drugs are now flooding the city’s streets. “Law enforcement, schools, and social service agencies are dealing with the ‘Katrina Generation’,” said Beach. “These are young adults and teenagers that are having a hard time coping with Katrina's aftermath; the loss of friends, homes, neighborhoods, and jobs.”
Recognizing that education plays a major role in reducing the demand for drugs, the DEA Education Foundation is launching a nine-month educational exhibit in New Orleans that deals with the many costs and consequences of drug abuse. The exhibit hopes to have more than 500,000 school children, teachers, and families tour the exhibit in an attempt to educate the citizens about the horrific damages drug abuse causes. More than 90% of crimes committed in New Orleans have a drug component, and it’s the DEA’s hope that this exhibit will cause a decline in that number.
“Rebuilding the neighborhoods and the support structure that goes along with them is another big component of combating this problem,” said Beach, “so many thanks to your alumni for their work.”