HARRISBURG (Nov. 21, 2017) Senator Michele Brooks encourages students in grades six through twelve to enter a short, original video in a contest aimed at educating young people about the dangers of heroin and opioid abuse. Winners could earn prizes of $2,500, $1,500 or $1,000, from a total of $10,000 in prize money donated by the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Association of Pennsylvania.
“Not only educating, but also including our young people in the conversations and solutions for combating the dangers of the drug epidemic are a few of the many strategies we should embrace,” Brooks said. “The complexities of today’s heroin and opioid crisis need to be fought far differently than the war on drugs of the past, as we are now seeing different types of drugs that would have never made it to our communities as easily years ago.”
“Many local students have creative ideas about fighting this crisis, and I welcome them to share their ideas, to earn money toward college, inspire legislative actions, and join the conversation about one of the most troubling and heart-breaking issues of the day,” Brooks added.
Video entries should be no longer than five minutes and highlight ways to combat abuse, help those suffering from addiction and develop laws to address the crisis.
“Talk to Your Senator” winners will receive cash prizes, awarded through the TAP 529 Account program in the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury, which will be deposited into a college savings account in the winners’ names. Videos will be judged based on creativity, content and effectiveness of message delivery.
Schools and students can find guidelines at www.acommonwealthcrisis.com, a website established by the Pennsylvania Senate to provide information and resources on the heroin and opioid crisis.
Entries must be submitted using the registration form available online at www.acommonwealthcrisis.com/talk-to-your-state-senator/. The deadline for entries is Dec. 10, 2017.
The Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania is a statewide coalition of drug and alcohol abuse prevention and education programs, student assistance programs, drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs, recovery services, statewide drug and alcohol organizations and others.
CONTACT: Diane McNaughton
dmmcnaughton@pasen.gov 717-787-1322