WWL - "I made more money selling drugs, and using then I would have made on the job," said Ben Smith.
Smith knows first hand how drugs led him down the wrong path. He was convicted of his crimes and served 13 years at Angola prison.
"There were six of us, The First 72+ was founded by formerly incarcerated people," he said.
After he got out of prison and back on his feet, he wanted to help others like him. That's why he now helps run the non-profit to help those getting out of prison find a place to live and work.
On Monday, President Donald Trump floated a proposal for drug traffickers to get harsher punishment.
"If we don't get tough on the drug dealers we're wasting our time... and that toughness includes the death penalty," President Donald Trump said.
Locally, Attorney General Jeff Landry says he's willing to consider the idea.