A few weeks ago, we wrapped filming for the Middle School PSA Challenge, one of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s many school based programs. Every year, we ask for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to write scripts for 30 second public service announcements encouraging their peers to say no to drugs. And every year, I am always astounded by the amount of talent and creativity.

The Middle School PSA Challenge, as with many of our school based programs, is based on the principal of peer-to-peer advertising, meaning that sometimes the best people who can talk to kids are other kids. Even parents who follow our advice and talk to their children everyday for at least 15 minutes can’t be aware of everything that goes on when their kids are at school or with their friends. So it is important to allow avenues for kids to talk to each other in the best way they know how about the dangers of substance abuse.

As parents, in addition to having open and consistent communication with our kids, we must also remember to teach them to be positive examples among their fellow students. Our programs have shown that peer to peer messaging can positively impact our kids and it’s something that must be nurtured, especially with the issue of prescription drug and heroin abuse claiming lives everyday in New Jersey. While every Middle School PSA script could not be a winner, we hope that these fantastic and talented young people continue to inspire their peers to be drug-free.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is proud to present free school based programs for students as young as third grade all the way up to high school. To see what we offer, feel free to visit our website.