Wic. Co. scholarship program looks to spur drug education through creativity
Raising awareness through creativity. Wicomico County officials are now turning to education to help prevent area high-schoolers from falling into drug addiction. Announced Tuesday the Wicomico Addiction Awareness Art and Film Competition.
“we are tapping into two powerful forces in American society, and that’s using art and film to communicate ideas,” Said Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello.
Maciarello says this scholarship contest is fully funded by some of the over $750,000 in drug proceeds the county seized last year. The competition is broken down into two categories, art and film. Both would require a student to communicate the dangers of opioid abuse and how it can lead to heroin addiction.
A first place winner in each category would receive a $1,000 scholarship, second $500 and third $100. The competition awards scholarship money to only three winners but according to Maciarello all participants and their parents end up coming out on top. That’s because in order to enter, participants and a parent or guardian have to hear the story of a Massachusetts teen named Liz whose addiction eventually led to her death.
Maciarello told 47 ABC, “It’s got an educational component there and then we’re using teens to come up with the icons, the imagery and the storytelling in both the films and the art to then influence other teens and other adults.”
To his knowledge, this is the only competition of its kind on the Eastern Shore and across the state. As for its inspiration Governor Hogan’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force. In their recently-released report the promotion of educational tools for parents, teens and school officials was listed in the recommendations made to the Governor.
Anti-drug educational and promotional materials have been around for some time but we’re told that since this competition will use the words of peers to get the message across – it’s likely to be more effective.
“the more that a presenter can relate to their audience, the more likely that message will catch traction,” Said Dr. Michael Finegan, a Salisbury psychologist and member of the task force.
The contest closes May first and the winners will be announced during the following Third Friday. After that the videos and art will be put on display at other county festivals.
According to the State’s attorney’s office, there were 13 overdoses and 3 deaths related to heroin and opioid abuse in Wicomico County. All in one recent weekend. Sheriff Mike Lewis tells us that in a given week he’ll sit down with local youth who are trying to fight addiction and try to map out a road to recovery. He says some make the changes and others don’t. In some cases, he and his deputys are working around family issues.
“Often times grandparents don’t want to prosecute their grandchildren who have stolen from them. We see that every single week. Grandmom and grandpop’s jewelry is missing, their guns are missing, their electronics are missing,” Said Lewis.
If you know a person struggling with an addiction, you can find more information here.
Click here for more information on the scholarship program.
