Billboard Near Kellogg Honors Fentanyl Overdose Victims, Raises Awareness
A new billboard near Kellogg, just west of Interstate 235, displays the faces of Kansans who lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses. Created to honor the victims and raise awareness about the drug’s dangers, the billboard was funded by the families of those featured.
The individuals pictured range in age from adults in their 40s to a 14-month-old child. The toddler’s mother, Mariah Ball, spearheaded the initiative after losing her son, Lucca, on July 3, 2022. Lucca, along with his sister, had been in the care of his father, who struggled with addiction.
Months after his passing, fentanyl was identified as the cause of death. However, the exact circumstances of how Lucca ingested the drug remain unclear.
“I don’t want to see anyone else go through this and have to lose a child or grandchild,” Ball said. Now, more than two years after his death, she reflects on the time lost with her son.
“They say it gets easier as time goes. I disagree with that; I think it gets harder,” Ball explained. “He doesn’t get to experience the things other children do, like starting school or graduating.”
Determined to make a difference, Ball began working on the billboard to prevent similar tragedies. She reached out to families through Facebook, gathering photos of their loved ones to create the display.
One of those families is Katie Cook’s. Cook lost her 17-year-old brother Wesley to fentanyl three years ago. She learned about the billboard project from a coworker and found solace in connecting with others who share her grief.
“Even though it’s been three years, I haven’t been able to fully cope with what happened to my brother,” Cook said.
The project has not only created a platform for awareness but also provided a sense of community for families grappling with loss.
“I don’t think there’s a day or a moment that goes by as a parent who’s lost a child that you don’t think about them,” Ball shared.
The billboard will remain in place for the next month, serving as both a memorial and a call to action. Resources are available for anyone struggling with addiction, whether for themselves, a friend, or a loved one.
