DA’s Office Partners with Nightlife Leaders to Prevent Overdoses During Mardi Gras

NEW ORLEANS — As New Orleans enters one of its most vibrant seasons, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office is emphasizing a clear message: public safety during Mardi Gras must be proactive, not reactive.

“Our job is not just to prosecute crime after tragedy strikes — it’s to prevent harm before it happens,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “As we head into Mardi Gras and large-scale events, our focus is on proactive safety. This is about protecting lives — residents and visitors alike. No celebration should ever come at the cost of someone’s life.”

This week, the DA’s Office partnered with the Louisiana Department of Health, which has been working alongside the City’s Office of Nighttime Economy to distribute Narcan and drug testing strips to establishments along major parade routes.

Narcan can reverse opioid overdoses in seconds. Drug testing strips can detect the presence of fentanyl and other dangerous substances before ingestion.

“Narcan saves lives. Drug testing strips save lives,” Williams said. “If someone unknowingly ingests something harmful, seconds matter. These tools are about giving people a fighting chance.”

The DA’s Office ensured its own victim advocates are equipped with overdose reversal resources. But Williams said safety doesn’t stop at my office doors.

“We recognized we have a responsibility to share resources with key establishments along major parade routes,” he said. “Large events bring large crowds — and unfortunately, sometimes predatory behavior. Prevention must meet people where they are.”

Holy Ground Irish Pub, strategically located along the Endymion parade route on the historic Canal corridor, is one of several establishments partnering in this proactive safety initiative.

“When we called about this opportunity, they immediately said yes,” Williams said. “They were already engaging in responsible safety practices. The fact that they embraced the opportunity to take in more resources and share them with other bars in their network speaks volumes. This is what responsible nightlife leadership looks like.”

Madeline Alonzo, manager of Holy Ground, echoed that commitment.

“Holy Ground is not just a bar. We like to call it Mid-City’s living room,” Alonzo said. “For our chosen family, safety is more than just a word — it’s a commitment. I’ve always been dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone. Partnering with the DA’s Office to offer test strips and Narcan during the parade is just another extension of that promise. I believe that a vibrant nightlife can also be a safe one. And every step we take to protect each other — whether by providing resources or looking out for one another — makes our neighborhood stronger.”

Williams noted that New Orleans has strong leadership within its nightlife community and that Holy Ground represents a model others can follow.

The proactive push comes just weeks after the DA’s Office secured a manslaughter conviction in the death of 24-year-old Zachary Hovsepian, a young visitor who was given a fatal dose of a designer sedative.

“A life that was just beginning was cut short because someone decided to take advantage of him,” Williams said. “Across this country — and here at home — people are dying after being drugged or unknowingly ingesting substances.”

The drug landscape has changed dramatically.

Officials are seeing:

“These substances do not discriminate — by age, by neighborhood, by whether someone is a local or a visitor,” Williams said. “The way these drugs are manufactured and distributed has changed. We must respond accordingly.”

Williams emphasized that Carnival season should be remembered for joy — not trauma.

“This is a time of revelry, but it is also a time for vigilance,” he said. “We want every resident and every visitor who walks our streets to leave with memories, not tragedy.”

The public is urged to:

“No parade. No party. No night out is worth a life,” Williams said. “Prevention is public safety. And keeping each other safe is a responsibility we all share.”

District Attorney Williams sat down with Missy Wilkinson of The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com to further discuss overdose prevention, nightlife partnerships, and the call for vigilance this Mardi Gras season. The interview expands on the life-saving tools now being distributed across key parade corridors and reinforces a simple message: prevention is public safety. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to read and share the full conversation once published.