kshb.comIndependence fentanyl billboards (Fake Pills Kill)
“Fake Pills Kill”
Independence Health Department (Jackson County, US-MO) fentanyl and naloxone billboard project designed by Fort Osage High School students, in its second year by January 2026: billboards on U.S. 24, Truman Road, North Noland Road and beside I-70 carry messages such as 'Fake Pills Kill' and 'live above the influence', paid for with a Jackson County COMBAT anti-drug tax grant.
- Years
- 2024–now
- Country
- United States
- Topic
- DrugsHarm reductionOpioids
- Asks people to
- Never startRecognize
- Strategy
- Fear appealPeer crowd
- Channel
- Outdoor
- Audience
- Young adultsYouth
Evidence
NoneUnknown
Sponsor (who paid)
- City of Independence Health Department State local government, creator
- Jackson County COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax) State local government, funder
Credits (who made it)
Not recorded yet.
Related campaigns
- Unfinished Legacies 2024–2025
Sources
Research notes
US-MO (Independence, Jackson County). Discovered 2026-10-22 for #17. No agency; students designed the boards with Independence Health Department public health specialist Halie Smith-Griffin. Start year from the FOX4 page (published about 2024); KSHB (Jan 2026) calls it the project's second year. COMBAT is a county sales tax, not opioid settlement money. Peer-crowd tag is loose: student-designed messages for peers. Procurement search 2026-10-22: no award or contract naming a vendor for this campaign was found (USAspending subawards, state/local procurement and spending portals where searchable, settlement reports, web search).
Record cases/independence-fake-pills-kill-billboards.json, updated 2026-10-22· Link to this campaign