Chattanooga Parents Raise Overdose Awareness with Billboards
Chattanooga – Parents in Chattanooga have taken to billboards to spread a vital message: “Fentanyl steals loved ones.” These billboards feature the photos of overdose victims as part of a broader effort to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day, observed on Saturday.
One of the faces on these billboards is that of Charlotte Gallant, a 19-year-old who tragically passed away in November 2022. Her mother, Leah Gallant, shares that Charlotte died after consuming what she thought was ketamine, only to find out later it was illicit fentanyl. “Charlotte was a beautiful, sweet, funny girl,” Leah said, recalling her daughter’s vibrant personality. Despite facing some tough times, Charlotte’s life was on an upswing when the incident occurred.
Charlotte’s tragic death, according to Leah, wasn’t due to a drug overdose but rather poisoning. She attributes the incident to illicit fentanyl sold by Jonathan Bash, who unknowingly provided the dangerous drug to Charlotte’s boyfriend. Bash was later tracked down through encrypted messaging and sentenced to 21 years in prison.
The Impact of Illicit Fentanyl
Illicit fentanyl, primarily produced in secret labs outside the U.S. and smuggled through Mexico, is a significant contributor to the opioid crisis. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), this synthetic opioid is so potent that just 1 kilogram can potentially kill 500,000 people. Recognizing the immense danger, Leah and her husband Thomas Gallant III have taken steps to honor their daughter’s memory and warn others.
“I don’t want my daughter forgotten,” Leah says. “I feel like I need to do something to try and prevent this from happening to another family.” The billboards serve as a stark reminder that these tragedies can strike any family, and Leah hopes they spark much-needed conversations about the dangers of drug use, particularly among young people.
Community Efforts and Advocacy
Local organizer Brenda Purcell is another key advocate in the Fentanyl Awareness Campaign. After losing her own son to fentanyl poisoning in 2019, Purcell has been a tireless advocate for opioid abatement, addiction recovery, and treatment. The current billboard campaign is a parent-driven initiative meant to encourage others to quickly seek help for addiction issues.
“When you see the picture of someone you went to school with, worked with, or attended church with, it makes an impact,” Purcell explained. She emphasizes that for many grieving parents, sharing their loss can be a path to healing. However, the decision to display their deceased loved one’s photo on a billboard is deeply personal and challenging.
The campaign aims to use various communication methods to make lasting impressions on the public. While billboards are a prominent part of the campaign, they are just one of many tools used to spread awareness and foster dialogue on this critical issue.
A Personal Crusade
Living in Signal Mountain, where Charlotte grew up, Leah hopes that seeing Charlotte’s face on the billboards will drive home the reality and severity of the fentanyl crisis. “Hopefully, by seeing Charlotte’s picture, they can see that if it can happen to Charlotte, it can happen to anyone,” Leah said.
Leah attended the Fentanyl Awareness Rally in Washington, D.C., in July and urges other parents to speak openly with their children about the dangers of drugs. Her message is clear and urgent: “One pill can kill.”
