Mariha Samapti, a seventh grader at Pleasantville Middle School, was the winner of Join Together’s PSA contest and had her artwork turned into a billboard.
ABSECON – Join Together Atlantic County, a countywide substance misuse prevention coalition, is holding an underage drinking prevention middle school public service announcement contest for sixth through eighth graders in Atlantic County.
Students are invited to create an 8.5- by 11-inch landscape direction PSA as a message to parents from youth about the dangers of underage drinking or providing alcohol to those under 21. The top three winners will receive prizes and the first place winner’s entry may be turned into a billboard.
The younger a person starts drinking, the more likely he or she is to have alcohol problems later in life. According to NIAAA, people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder later in their lives. The brain is still forming until the early twenties and teen drinking can cause permanent brain damage. If you really want to fit in, stay sober. Most young people do not drink alcohol. Providing alcohol to those under 21 is illegal and can result in up to six months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine, and a permanent criminal charge on your record if convicted.
Rules and regulations for the middle school PSA Contest can be found at www.jtacnj.org/news.
Entries are due to the Atlantic Prevention Resources office at 626 N Shore Rd, Absecon, NJ 08201 or emailed to acutano@atlprev.org no later than 4 p.m. Friday, May 21. For more information, contact Amber Cutano at 609-272-0101, ext. 271 or acutano@atlprev.org.
By participating in this contest, area youths will support Join Together Atlantic County in their mission to prevent, reduce and/or delay substance use among youth of Atlantic County in a long term and sustainable manner.
