Protecting Louisiana’s Families:
CDC Injury Prevention Center
America is starting to turn the tide on overdose deaths and suicide. U.S. overdose deaths declined by nearly 27% in 2024, and we can’t stop that momentum. The path to saving more lives requires solutions that work.
The CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is America's leader on preventing overdose and suicide.
Louisiana receives critical funding from the CDC Injury Center to prevent overdose and suicide.
$4,688,805
to the Louisiana state health department to track and address overdoses
$784,000
for Louisiana suicide prevention programs
$330,086
for the National Violent Death Reporting System, which provides Louisiana with vital state-specific data to inform targeted, evidence-based prevention strategies that save lives across the state
12
community coalitions in Louisiana each receive up to $125,000 per year through the Drug-Free Communities program
Take Action
The President’s budget request to Congress proposed to eliminate funding for the CDC Injury Center. Protect $761 million in critical funding to the CDC Injury Center so that our work can continue. An investment in overdose and suicide prevention is a strategic investment in a healthier, more productive society.
Peer Initiative, a student-led program born at Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has transformed tragedy into action by empowering teens to support one another through mental health struggles and crisis prevention.
Sparked by a wave of suicides and road-related fatalities devastated the community, the program combines professional counseling with peer-led outreach to help students “save their own lives.”
Its impact has grown statewide, but its success hinges on critical funding. “The trainings for students are through a contract with the state of Louisiana and are funded through CDC grants,” said Ken Brown, CEO and co-founder of Peer Initiative. “This funding is crucial…if this work stops happening, then kids who could have been saved, won’t be.”
With CDC Injury Center support, Peer Initiative continues to bring mental health awareness to schools, advocate at the state level, and give students like Zoë Mouton—who has faced her own struggles with suicide—a supportive community and the tools to fight for their future.
