This is a busy week for the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. First, I was featured in a CBS 2 news story, in which I once again discuss the opioid crisis. You can watch the full story HERE.

Meanwhile, the Partnership’s annual music competition New Jersey Shout Down Drugs, is in full swing after online voting for this year’s contestants began last Friday.

The competition is unique in the way it promotes substance use prevention throughout the state.

High school students write original songs with lyrics that contain peer-to-peer substance use prevention messages. Music is a great form of expression, which gives participants not only a chance to display their musical talents, but also to reach fellow teenagers with messages that promote healthy living, free of the use of drugs.

This year, 57 students comprising 32 musical acts from 14 counties entered the competition. Each and every one of the 32 performers put a tremendous amount of thought and creativity into their songs, so now it’s your turn to help Shout Down Drugs.

The competitors and their prevention songs were unveiled on www.shoutdowndrugs.com on Friday for the start of the online voting period, which will run through March 2. The highest vote-getter during that period will earn an automatic spot and join the county finalists at the 14^th annual Prevention Concert, which will be held Friday, April 27 at Daytop New Jersey in Mendham. Tickets are FREE and available HERE.

We know these students’ messages about substance abuse prevention can make an impact on the epidemic New Jersey currently faces regarding prescription opioid and heroin use. I urge you not only to check out the work of this year’s competitors and vote for the songs you like best, but also to listen to the songs and think about the prevention messages they convey.