Billboard Combating Heroin Addiction Removed After Backlash

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A billboard aimed at trying to curb heroin addiction backfired; a county health department was forced to remove it.

Meghan McCorkell has more on why some say it sent the wrong message.

Advocates agree heroin addiction is a major problem in Frederick County but they're not happy with the health department's latest attempt to stop it.

In a prominent spot along busy Route 355 in Frederick was a message seen by thousands of drivers: "Addiction is preventable; parenting is prevention."

"I was like, `How in the world can somebody put this type of billboard up?'" said Gina Pezza-Carbaugh.

For her, the message is personal. For four years, she helped her son Richard fight back against his addiction.

"He had been in and out of recovery---I couldn't tell you---so many years," Pezza-Carbaugh said.

But in 2012 at the age of 18, he lost that fight. Pezza-Carbaugh believes this billboard shames parents who did everything they could to save their children.

"There's no book out there that tells you that your son or daughter is ever going to become an addict," she said. "It happens."

A petition to remove the billboard gathered thousands of signatures from all over the country within hours. Tuesday, the Frederick County Department of Health had the billboard covered over.

Health officials released a statement calling the billboard a miscommunicated message, saying, "We have heard your comments and concerns regarding the billboard message and, again, apologize for any hurt it may have unintentionally caused."

"I honestly don't think it was their intention to hurt anybody, I really don't. I know they do a lot of different campaigns that are great," Pezza-Carbaugh said.

She just hopes they run their next campaign by advocates like her.

Between January and March this year, the county saw 14 overdose deaths---that's up from just three that same time period the year before.

Frederick County has started the "Take Back My Life" campaign to help addicts get into recovery.