Statewide billboard campaign targets opioid epidemic

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A statewide effort to combat the growing opioid epidemic is taking over many billboards.

The billboard campaign is a joint partnership between the Ohio Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The campaign goal is to get people talking about the drug issues in their communities. Local business, Barnes Advertising Corp., helped make the billboards possible here in Zanesville.

“We have actually three billboard digital locations here in Zanesville. We have five in Licking County. And we have one in …. County.”

The State Highway Patrol and the Zanesville Police Department are also involved in the campaign. There are two simples messages all of the groups want to portray: “Start Talking!” and “pound 6-7-7 for Impaired Drivers”. Lieutenant Matt Boyd of the State Highway Patrol stresses how important it is to talk to kids about drugs before it’s too late.

“Our start talking program which is Ohio’s approach to try to get trusted adults to talk to children about drug abuse and not being involved in drugs,” said Boyd. “And studies have shown that children that have trusted adults talk to them about the dangers of drug abuse are up to 50% more likely to stay away from drug abuse.”

Law enforcement hopes that early conversations combined with community involvement will help clean up the streets.

“What we’re hoping is that the increased awareness will allow people to report any of the problems that they see and allow us to take action on them,” said Zanesville Police Captain Chris Phipps.

If you witness anything and would like to speak up, you can dial pound 6-7-7 on your phone to speak with a dispatcher.