Sen. Browne

Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, is urging middle and high school students to help find solutions to the growing heroin and opioid epidemic facing the state by producing a video aimed at focusing greater awareness on the crisis.

“Talk to Your State Senator,” a statewide video competition, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Senate with support from members of the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Association of PA, is intended to get students involved in legislative efforts to fight heroin and opioid abuse.

Students are encouraged to submit video entries of no longer than five minutes that highlight ways to combat abuse, help those who suffer from addiction and develop laws to address the current crisis.

“Legislators have been seeking input on how we can solve this growing health care crisis, and we want to enlist the help of young people in our schools, who see the impact first hand,” Sen. Browne said. “Through this video contest, we hope to harness the creativity and perspective of students to help us craft policy and legislation to combat drug abuse.”

“Talk to Your Senator” is open to Pennsylvania students in grades six through 12 and will provide a total of $10,000 in cash prizes to winning entries that focus on ways to prevent drug abuse among young people.

Prize money will be awarded through the TAP 529 Account program in the PA Department of Treasury and will be deposited into a college savings account in the winner’s name.

Videos will be judged based on creativity, content and effectiveness of message delivery. Entries must be submitted using the online registration form at acommonwealthcrisis.com/talk-to-your-state-senator. Deadline for entries is Dec. 10.