Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington joined East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III and treatment professionals from across Louisiana on March 11 for a panel discussion hosted by the Victoria’s Voice Foundation in Baton Rouge titled The Future of Addiction Treatment and Justice in Louisiana.
The event brought together prosecutors, treatment providers, and community leaders to discuss how Louisiana can better address addiction through prevention, treatment, and accountability.
The Victoria’s Voice Foundation was created following the tragic overdose death of 18-year-old Victoria Siegel, whose passing led her parents, David and Jackie Siegel, to launch a national effort focused on substance abuse prevention and education for young people and families. At Victoria’s request, her personal diary was published after her death in the book Victoria’s Voice: Her Words from Beyond the Grave, which continues to be distributed to schools, organizations, and community groups as an educational resource to help parents, educators, and young people recognize early warning signs of addiction and mental health struggles. Today, the foundation works across the country to expand awareness, prevention education, and life-saving resources for families facing similar challenges.
The panel discussion focused on the changing role of the criminal justice system in addressing substance use disorder, with both district attorneys emphasizing the importance of treating addiction as more than simply a criminal matter.
During the discussion, Moore noted that traditional approaches alone have not solved the crisis.
“What has not worked in the past is still not working,” Moore said during the panel. “We have to continue moving toward treatment-based solutions where appropriate.”
Harrington spoke about the shift that has taken place in Natchitoches Parish over the years, particularly through diversion programs and drug court.
“Not so long ago, cases involving drug possession often ended with probation and little else,” Harrington said. “Today, we focus on getting individuals into treatment programs, our drug court, and structured recovery services that address the root causes of addiction.”
Harrington also emphasized that prevention efforts often begin before a criminal case reaches the courtroom, particularly when juveniles and families are involved.
“We are seeing firsthand that addiction often affects entire households, not just one individual,” Harrington said. “That means prevention and intervention efforts must begin early and involve the family whenever possible.”
At the same time, Harrington stressed that treatment and accountability must work hand in hand.
“Our goal is to provide opportunities for recovery and treatment whenever possible, but there must also be personal accountability,” Harrington said. “We work to refer first-time offenders into treatment when appropriate, but repeat offenses and continued criminal conduct must be addressed through the justice system.”
Harrington said the discussion was an important opportunity to share how local prosecutors and treatment providers can work together to save lives and reduce repeat offenses.
“Addiction affects every community, including ours in Natchitoches Parish,” Harrington said. “This is an issue that requires prevention, treatment resources, and accountability working together if we are going to protect families and strengthen our communities.”
