This contest challenges teenagers to create an original video to promote awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse/overdose and fentanyl among teens. It is open to all 6th – 12th grade students living in Montgomery County. Top prize is $1,000, second place is $750, third place and fan favorite winners will receive $500 all donated by The Magnolia Companies in honor of two young Montgomery County residents lost to fentanyl; Michael Pisarra and Matthew Loudoun.
Students can enter the contest on their own or as a group; however, students may only participate in ONE entry. If a student in any way participates in more than one PSA video, all of those entries will be disqualified. Video entries including illegal items, inappropriate language, or illustrating the use of needles/syringes, a violent or graphic overdose, or violence in general will not be accepted.** Participants are encouraged to be creative!
Entry Rules:
- All submissions must have a title.
- All submissions must be in either English or Spanish.
- All submissions must be 50-70 seconds in length.
- All submissions must be uploaded to Google Drive, Dropbox, YouTube, or similar program and a link must be provided below.
All submissions must address at least one of the following as it relates to illegal drug use:
- Statistics or factual information about opioids, drug abuse, overdose, accidental overdose and/or fentanyl.
- Impact of peer pressure or mental health issues.
- Examples of healthy choices when it comes to avoiding the use of illegal drugs.
- Bystander intervention (ie: seeking help from a trusted adult, Naloxone, the Good Samaritan Law).
All submissions must include the visual link: Knowtherisksmc.org or the QR code and logo as a resource.

Submissions may NOT include ANY copyrighted music, audio/video clips, characters, logos, or other protected material. Videos may include music only if it is considered “open source” music, or if it is composed and played by a student (or students) in the group. Please enter the information below, and please make sure you SHARE ACCESS TO YOUR VIDEO so that the judging panel can view it.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/speakup-savealife
If you have questions about the contest, please email [email protected]