WICOMICO OPIOID ADDICTION AWARENESS ART & FILM COMPETITION

The heroin epidemic is a growing problem nationwide. In 2014 there were 578 heroin/opioid deaths in Maryland. In just one recent weekend, there were 13 overdoses and 3 fatalities in our county alone. When interviewed, most of the addicted in our county tell a similar tale. The users of heroin first became addicted to prescription opiate pain medication. They were prescribed the pills, or they got them at a party, or from a friend, or the medicine cabinet at home. An opiate addiction is insidious-- it grabs the user quick and then as the pills become more expensive or harder to obtain, the user switches to heroin which often times is more potent.

We are working on getting resources to help the addicted, but our best hope is to reach the youth, to get them to understand the dangers of using and abusing prescription opiates and how abusing pills is a pathway to heroin use. So in order to foster an awareness in our community, we are reaching out to the youth to participate in this Film and Art Competition.

WICOMICO FILM COMPETITION
The rules are simple, create a 30 second video about the dangers of opioid abuse and the link between prescription drugs and heroin.
1st Prize--$1,000 Scholarship
2nd Prize--$500 Scholarship
3rd Prize--$100 Scholarship

WICOMICO ART COMPETITION
Create an art project on any medium except video or film (canvas, paper, photography, etc.) that communicates the dangers of opioid abuse and the link between prescription drugs and heroin.
1st Prize-$1,000 Scholarship
2nd Prize-$500 Scholarship
3rd Prize-$100 Scholarship
The entry form and releases can be found on the Wicomico County website here: http://www.wicomicocounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=201

All competitors, their parents or guardians must certify in the entry form that they watched the video “Liz’s Story” before submitting their entry. The video can be found here:

http://www.mass.gov/…/stop-a…/stop-addiction-lizs-story.html

Submissions must be brought to the front desk of the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office on or before May 1, 2016 with the completed entry form. Judging will take place on or before May 20, 2016 and award winners will be announced at Third Friday in downtown Salisbury. All entries will be on display at 3rd Friday in May and may be on display throughout the year at events and festivals during for one year after submission. All individuals who appear in the video must sign the attached release. Videos may be aired on PAC-14 and local media websites and broadcasts. This competition is open to any student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in Wicomico County, Maryland.

The scholarships have been provided by the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force (Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury City Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Maryland State Police)