CHARLESTON — The winner of this year's Kids Kick Opioids contest is a fourth-grade student from Lashmeet/Matoaka Elementary School in Mercer County.
Taylor Wright's artwork was chosen from more than 3,500 submissions statewide. Submissions came from 91 schools statewide, making this year's contest the highest participation since the contest began.
"Kids provide such a window into the soul of our society and what we've found out is our Kids Kick Opioids contest, I think, is a great program to allow us to truly educate children and people across society about the perils of this terrible epidemic," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said.
Morrisey said the students' submissions were heartwarming.
"These are touching submissions that I think pull at the heartstrings of so many people in West Virginia who have been affected by this epidemic," Morrisey said.
Since its inception, the Kids Kick Opioids contest has generated more than 12,800 entries.
"I want to congratulate Taylor and everyone who submitted an entry into this year's contest," Morrisey said. "We must continue to fight this opioid epidemic and education is one of our best weapons."
Wright's submission for the contest featured people trapped inside a pill bottle. It also contained the message, "Don’t bottle up your family over your addiction."
Wright's submission is a reminder than opioid abuse not only affect the user themselves, but also those around them.
"Taylor’s design shows the harsh reality that opioid addiction rips families apart and causes devastating sadness,” Morrisey said.
Morrisey said he was thankful for all of the submissions, as he hopes they will help in preventing future drug abuse by reaching out to the younger generation.
Runners-up included Dakota Niebergau, an eighth-grade student at Rivesville Elementary/Middle School in Marion County and Mia Pietranon, an eighth-grade student at St. Paul Catholic School in Weirton.
Niebergau and Pietranon's submissions will be included with Wright's on the attorney general's website. They will also be displayed at the State Capitol Complex this fall.