Fentanyl test strips, NARCAN, mental health information provided at Donaldsonville event | Ascension

Substance abuse treatment and mental health resources were the focus of the Capital Area Human Services’ Driving Into Recovery event Sept. 17 in Donaldsonville.

A steady line of more than 100 vehicles made pit stops at 10 local vendor tables under the Frank Sotile Jr. Pavilion.

Vehicles line up during Saturday’s Capital Area Human Services’ Driving Into Recovery event at the Donaldsonville Frank Sotile Jr. Pavilion. Information about mental health and addiction recovery was passed out to residents during the free event.

Photo by Wendy Loup

Vendors offered free informational resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Other products available at the drive-thru included NARCAN nasal sprays, Fentanyl test strips, drug deactivation bags that can properly dispose medicine, diapers and food boxes.

Shaketha Carter, deputy director of CAHS, said the drive-thru event is a way to reach as many people as possible in Donaldsonville and other areas to feature services offered in mental health and addiction recovery.

Boxes of NARCAN nasal spray and Fentanyl testing strips were given out by the Louisiana Department of Health during the Capital Area Human Services’ Driving Into Recovery event in Donaldsonville.

Photo by Wendy Loup

Carter, a Donaldsonville resident, said the event helps residents of the parish find out about the services offered in both the Donaldsonville and Gonzales locations.

“We offer behavioral health services, mental health and addiction recovery resources and family services,” she said.

The drive-thru event has occurred for several years but was postponed a couple of years during the COVID pandemic, Carter noted.

Brittney Mayo, chief executive officer of Mayo Behavioral Health Services, said the Driving Into Recovery event is a way to let people know there are services available to help those in need.

“We came out today because there are people fighting addiction, and we want to help with recovery services,” Mayo said. “All services offered here today are needed in the community.”

Katelyn Melancon, program director at Mayo Behavioral Health Services, said the resources offered at events like the drive-thru “give people a sense of hope.”

“We need resources available, especially with the opioid crisis, and sometimes medication as a treatment is needed as well as counseling,” Melancon said.

Mayo Behavioral Health Services offers mental health, marriage and addiction recovery counseling, Mayo said.

Ascension Parish Library’s Outreach Assistant Shelby Landaiche passed out mental health and addiction recovery resources at the drive-thru.

“The library is able to help people find online counseling and recovery resources,” Landaiche said. “The library is a familiar face to residents.”

Donaldsonville resident Bratta Williams received bags of information at the event.

“This is helpful for the community, and all information given out today is needed,” Williams said. “They are all very friendly people. All of these are important items, and I hope these are beneficial to everyone, even if they aren’t for you.”

The Louisiana Department of Health gave attendees many items including packs of NARCAN nasal spray and Fentanyl testing strips, as well as health brochures.

Opioid Prevention Outreach Coordinator Trudy Wickham said the Department of Health attended the event to inform people about the risk of opioids.

“They can be very helpful, but also very addictive,” Wickham said. “We are giving out information and tips such as you need to lock up your medicines and don’t take medicine from anyone.”

“There have been residents today who have said, ‘Yes, I’ve lost a loved one from an overdose, and I wish I had known what to do,’” Wickham said.

Denise Dorsey, of Donaldsonville, said, “I loved the drive-thru. There was a lot of information I didn’t know about. I wish that everyone would have been able to come out today to receive this.”

CAHS also provides services to 33 schools including East Ascension High School, Donaldsonville High School and Gonzales Middle School, Carter said.

Carter said the CAHS services Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East, and West Baton Rouge and East and West Feliciana.

For more information about the Capital Area Human Services, call (225) 925-1906. For more information about mental health and addiction recovery services offered from the Louisiana Department of Health, call (225) 342-9500.

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