‘Say the F word’: Cincinnati billboards urging people to confront fentanyl crisis
By Megan Mitchell
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CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Billboards in Cincinnati with the message “Say the F Word” are drawing attention to the dangers of fentanyl, as part of a family’s effort to honor their son’s legacy and prevent overdose deaths.
Stephanie Quehl, mom and president of the foundation “Do It For Jack,” said, “My biggest fear is him being forgotten.”
Her son, Jack Quehl, died of an overdose at the age of 24, and she and her husband, Tom, chose to be transparent about the circumstances.
Stephanie Quehl, who taught health education, expressed the difficulty of discussing the topic, saying, “We don’t want to talk about it. I mean, you don’t want to. I’m a grade school teacher, you know, and I taught health education, you know, I taught that before. And then your son, you’re like, wow. You know, we just had no idea.”
Jack Quehl was a standout student and athlete at Moeller, with passions for sports, reading, and traveling.
After graduating from the University of South Carolina, he moved to Baltimore with friends, where he was found on a rooftop patio.
Police reported that weekend had one of the highest numbers of overdose deaths involving pills laced with fentanyl.
Tom Quehl, dad and co-founder, explained the danger, saying, “People are taking things that they think is maybe a Xanax or an Adderall or any type of other street drug, and it’s laced with fentanyl. So they’re not expecting to get fentanyl, and two grains of salt put in a pill is enough to kill you.”
The Quehls’ foundation is dedicated to spreading awareness to prevent deaths.
They visit schools, workplaces, and organizations to educate people, especially teens and young adults, about the current cultural issues.
Stephanie Quehl urged, “Don’t look away. Have that conversation literally. You see this on your news tonight. Take the time to call your grandson. Call your neighbor, call your teenage kid. Call somebody at the college. Spring break is coming up I mean- .” She added, “…You might save a life.”
The Quehls plan to update the billboard with more context and ways to help spread the word.
They have already reached over 19,000 students through their outreach and aim to expand their efforts to reach more young people before summer.
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