MAYOR-PRESIDENT MONIQUE B. BOULET ANNOUNCES $350,000 IN OPIOID FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

MAYOR-PRESIDENT MONIQUE B. BOULET ANNOUNCES $350,000 IN OPIOID FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

Investment puts settlement dollars to work on the front lines, strengthening parish-wide public safety

LAFAYETTE, LA - Standing alongside law enforcement leaders from across Lafayette Parish, Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet recently announced a targeted investment of opioid settlement funding that puts resources directly where the crisis is being fought every day-on the ground, in local communities.

Through Parish Ordinance No. 010-2026, Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) has allocated $350,000 in opioid settlement funds, providing $50,000 to each municipal police department and the Lafayette City Marshal's Office to strengthen public safety response efforts at the local level.

"This is about putting these dollars to work where they matter most-on the ground, in our communities," said Lafayette Parish Mayor-President, Monique B. Boulet. "It's about protecting our families, our kids, and the communities we call home. And at the end of the day, it's about public safety and saving lives."

The announcement comes at a critical moment. While Lafayette Parish has made measurable progress, the opioid crisis continues to impact families across the region and remains a significant public safety and public health challenge. In 2024, 50 of the 67 drug-involved deaths in the parish involved opioids, most commonly fentanyl. At the same time, drug-involved deaths have declined by 55% since 2021-a sign that ongoing efforts are making a difference, but that the work is far from over.

Data also shows the impact is deeply local. Between January 2024 and July 2025, 130 opioid-related deaths were recorded parishwide, with 32 occurring within Duson alone, highlighting the need for community-based solutions tailored to where the need is greatest. That's exactly what this investment is designed to support.

Local law enforcement agencies are often the first to respond in overdose situations and moments of crisis, serving not only as frontline public safety responders, but as critical connectors to care and support. "This funding ensures our agencies have the tools to respond quickly, prevent overdoses, and connect people to the help they need," Boulet added.

Officials emphasized that enforcement is only one part of a broader, coordinated strategy. Lafayette Parish continues to invest in prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts, while working to strengthen the parish's overall public safety infrastructure and reduce strain on emergency services.

To date, Lafayette Parish has received more than $6.1 million in opioid settlement funding, with over $4.2 million already allocated toward programs and partnerships addressing the crisis. This latest investment reflects a continued commitment to deploying those funds strategically, focused on measurable impact, strengthening public safety, and saving lives.

"Every one of these numbers represents a person-a family, a neighbor, a life," Boulet said. "We are making progress, but we cannot let up now."

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