The new school year has begun, and that means PDFNJ's “Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs” contest is returning. Each year, we invite fourth-grade students from across New Jersey to create artwork that promotes drug-free choices and inspires others to do the same.

Students are once again invited to submit their original designs for the contest. Two winning submissions will be selected and featured on bookmarks that will be distributed to classrooms across New Jersey in 2026. Last year’s winners, Adrian Camilo, a student at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Jamesburg, and Madison Gunsch, a student at McDivitt Elementary School in Old Bridge, were selected from thousands of entries.  

Programs like the “Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs” contest are a powerful way to engage young people in choosing and celebrating a healthy life. Through this peer-to-peer artwork, students creatively share their vision for making positive choices and resisting peer pressure.

The deadline to submit artwork is December 12, 2025, and the contest is open to all fourth-grade students in New Jersey.

Submission guidelines can be found here: drugfreenj.org/4thgraderules

Please help spread the word and share the guidelines with fourth-grade parents so they can submit their child’s artwork directly.

If you have any questions, please contact Julia Egan at 973-275-7985.

Let’s inspire the next generation of healthy, drug-free leaders—one bookmark at a time!