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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2017
New Statewide Billboard Campaign Tackles Drug
Abuse
Outdoor Advertising Association and State Agencies
Partner to Encourage Ohioans to Take Action
COLUMBUS
– A new billboard campaign to raise public awareness about
opiate abuse by encouraging public participation in drug use prevention and
interdiction efforts has been launched by the Ohio Outdoor Advertising
Association of Ohio in partnership with Ohio Department of Public Safety and
the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
“Members of the Outdoor
Advertising Association of Ohio are
donating about 200 digital, poster, and bulletin billboards across the state
with two simple messages: “Start Talking!”
and #677 for Impaired Drivers,” said Outdoor Advertising
Association of Ohio President Greg
Churilla. “Our association is pleased to
partner with the state of Ohio, and do our part to help the state fight drug
abuse and addiction.”
To encourage adults to talk to children about the dangers
of drug abuse, one of the images that will be displayed on billboards across
the state promotes tips to keep kids drug free. Start Talking! is the state’s drug
prevention program that provides parents, guardians, educators and community
leaders with the tools to start the conversation about the importance of living
healthy, drug-free lives. Research
shows that children whose parents or other trusted adults talk with them about
the risks of drugs are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs than those who
have not had those critical conversations.
In
addition to Start Talking!, billboards will encourage Ohioans to call #677,
which serves as a multi-purpose number for the public to report drug activity,
impaired drivers and other highway safety concerns to the Ohio State Highway
Patrol. When someone calls #677, the call is routed to the closest
communications center and a trooper is dispatched to investigate the complaint.
Participating members of the Outdoor
Advertising Association of Ohio
include: Barnes
Outdoor Advertising; Cleveland Outdoor; Kessler Signs; Key-Ads; Lamar Erie;
Lamar Cincinnati; Lamar Youngstown; Lamar Toledo; Lamar Dayton; Lamar St. Clairsville;
Lamar Columbus; Lamar Cleveland; Lammers Outdoor; Nauman Outdoor; Norton
Outdoor Advertising; OUTFRONT Media; and Porter Advertising. Additionally,
Kramer Graphics will be donating 20 poster displays to the effort.
“We are
appreciative of this partnership that empowers Ohioans,” said Ohio Department
of Public Safety Director John Born. “By using #677 on Ohio’s
roads to report drug activity, you will be contributing to a safer Ohio.”
“The timing of this partnership couldn’t be better,” said
Ohio Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services Director Tracy Plouck. “These billboards are a
great reminder to families that holiday road trips are a perfect time to engage
young people in meaningful conversations about the dangers of alcohol and other
drugs.”
Since 2011, under the
leadership of Governor John R. Kasich, Ohio has put in place one of the
nation’s most aggressive and comprehensive approaches to fighting opiate
addiction and drug overdoses. Ohio has developed a responsive, community‑centered
plan of action – an approach based on four strategic pillars: Treatment
and Recovery, Prevention, Education and tougher, more effective Enforcement
aimed at the drug traffickers and pill-mill operators who are injecting this
poison into our communities. For more information, visit http://mha.ohio.gov/gcoat.
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Media contacts:
- Ohio Department of Public Safety: 614-466-4344
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Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: 614-728-5090
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