CHARLESTON — The deadline for the 8th Annual Kids Kick Opioids contest is approaching, and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is reminding those who want to participate to turn in their entries.
The deadline for the contest is May 3.
"Each year, our Kids Kick Opioids contest showcases the boundless talent and creativity of our elementary and middle school students— students across the state have so much creative talent," Morrisey said in an interview with The West Virginia Record.
Morrisey reminded schools, students and parents to turn in their entries before the deadline, urging them to share their personal experiences with prescription painkiller abuse.
"Drug abuse needlessly claims too many lives, and our hope is the entries from these artistic students will bring greater awareness and change," Morrisey said. "This contest allows them to use that talent to spread the message that opioids can kill."
The competition offers students a valuable platform to delve into the perils and fatal outcomes of prescription painkiller abuse.
Over the years, the competition has become a space for many to candidly share personal narratives, shedding light on how opioid dependency has ravaged their lives and the lives of those they cherish.
"This contest also uniquely equips elementary and middle school students across our state with the chance to have a voice in reducing opioid abuse and ultimately saving lives," Morrisey said.
Since its inception, Kids Kick Opioids has garnered 17,600 entries, demonstrating the eagerness of young minds to engage with this critical issue.
Students are encouraged to participate individually or in groups, with submissions ranging from drawings and poems to letters, all aimed at fostering awareness. The winning entry will receive prominent placement as a statewide newspaper public service announcement, while regional winners will have their work showcased in the State Capitol.
Tragically, thousands of West Virginians have succumbed to drug overdoses, many tied to opioid use.
Combatting this crisis has been a focal point for Morrisey, who has undertaken various strategies. These include a lawsuit against the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, resulting in sweeping reforms to the nation’s drug quota system.
The attorney general has waged the battle against opioids through civil litigation, participation in multistate initiatives, allocating funds to tackle opioid abuse, criminal prosecutions, embracing new technologies, engaging with the faith-based community and prioritizing education.
As the deadline approaches for the Kids Kick Opioids contest, the hope is that through the creativity and passion of these young participants, awareness will continue to grow, contributing to the efforts to combat this devastating epidemic in West Virginia.
The contest is open to all grade school and middle school students in the state and winners are chosen by a panel of judges. The winner's submission will be featured on Morrisey's statewide newspaper PSA and will also be displayed at the state capitol.
The theme of the contest is raising awareness about prescription opioid abuse. Submissions can include poems, cartoons, drawing, letters or anything else the author thinks will help in promoting awareness of opioid abuse. Submissions must git within the box on the the submission form.