Billboards across Lima are drawing attention to the dangers of illicit street drugs, as part of a national awareness and education campaign launched by the Association of People against Lethal Drugs, or APALD. This non-profit organization, based out of Allen County, aims to inform residents about the unpredictable nature of street drugs and the potentially lethal consequences of contamination.
Supported by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), APALD's new national campaign is titled “Every Form. Every Risk.” The initiative highlights how many street drugs are laced with other substances, significantly increasing their danger. According to the National Institutes of Health, the illicit drug supply has become increasingly contaminated, primarily due to the addition of synthetic opioids. The NIH identifies drug lacing as a major contributor to the modern overdose crisis.
Street drugs can appear in various forms, which heightens every risk, according to APALD. They can be laced with a range of potent substances, including medetomidine, nitrazenes, isotonitazene, xylazine, and fentanyl. The DEA has reported that 60% of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a lethal dose.
APALD founder Diane Urban created the organization after experiencing a personal tragedy. Her son died in 2019 due to a fentanyl overdose. Urban said that after receiving his toxicology report, which cited "fentanyl poisoning" and "accidental" causes, she researched the issue and was compelled to act. She recalled thinking, "Why is nobody doing anything about this?" Urban explained she faced a choice after her son's passing: either succumb to grief or try to show there is hope and paths for people to get clean.
What began as a small Facebook group quickly grew into a DEA-approved national organization, Urban said. The primary motivation behind the “Every Form. Every Risk” campaign is the trust that people of all ages sometimes place in illicit drugs, often without knowing their true contents.
A newer development in illicit drugs involves “poly drugs,” where a purchased street drug contains more than the buyer intended. These mixtures can include animal tranquilizers such as medetomidine and xylazine, substances potent enough to kill a rhinoceros, according to the source material. Urban cautioned that individuals at a party, attempting to acquire substances like cocaine or even marijuana, might never know what they are truly consuming. She advised, “Unless it’s a drug from the pharmacy with your name on it, take nothing.”
The “Every Form. Every Risk” billboards are currently visible on Metcalf Street, North Street, and Pearl Street in Lima. APALD expressed hopes for new billboards to appear in additional locations throughout the city.
