May 2nd, 2018 by WCBC Radio

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced five students from the Eastern Panhandle as regional winners of the Kids Kick Opioids contest, a competition designed to spur creativity and raise awareness of prescription painkiller abuse.
 
The regional winners were Ciara Brand and Avery Nine, of Musselman Middle School; Emi Smith, of Romney Middle School; and Chloe Davis and Kaden Patterson, of Wildwood Middle School.
 
“Congratulations to each of our regional winners,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “This year’s entries really showcase the tremendous talent of our elementary and middle school participants.
 
“On a more somber note, the entries also underscore the seriousness of the drug epidemic. So many designs leave little question that our students understand the impact of growing up in a generation shaken by opioid abuse. Let’s hope their artwork will bring about new awareness and a commitment to change,” he added.
 
Judges recognized 35 winning entries from 41 students overall. Their designs will be displayed at the State Capitol.
 
The statewide winning entry will soon appear in newspapers across West Virginia as the Attorney General’s next public service announcement.
 
The Attorney General received 2,087 entries from 2,300 students at 70 middle and elementary schools across West Virginia. The submissions included a mix of drawings, poems and other designs aimed at promoting awareness.
 
Kids Kick Opioids represents one initiative through which the Attorney General has sought to combat West Virginia’s drug overdose death rate – the nation’s highest. Other initiatives include criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, sweeping changes to drug policy, multistate partnerships, awareness initiatives and engagement with the faith-based community.
 
The West Virginia State Medical Association, West Virginia Association of School Nurses and the Capitol Police assisted the Attorney General in judging the public service announcement contest.