Marijuana, vaping, heroin, the misuse of prescription opioids, and other drugs are increasing in pandemic proportions everywhere, especially here in the Baton Rouge area. Overdose deaths in our area are among one of the highest in the country, and although overdose deaths have made a slight decline in our area, reported overdose rates have not!

This is a public health crisis that knows no demographic barriers, and we must do all that we can to educate each other about these dangers, and HELP all who are suffering (including friends and family members)

about the Contest

In today's society, social media is one of the quickest and most efficient ways to raise awareness, especially among teens; so who better to get a message across than teens themselves? We seek to spread the message of the dangerous threat that drug use poses to our community's teenagers by inviting teens in grades 9-12 to form a team to create and submit a one to two minute video. Your school's PSA will focus on the dangers and consequences of choosing vapes, heroin, marijuana, prescription opiods, fentanyl, and/or other drugs.

East Baton Rouge Parish Be A BOSS + HOPE Initiative

Youth Prevention Campaign

Victoria’s Voice Foundation (VVF) is a national nonprofit organization 

dedicated to preventing substance misuse through youth education, 

caregiver engagement, and evidence-based prevention strategies. Founded 

by parents who lost their daughter to an accidental overdose, VVF centers its 

work on early intervention, recognizing that prevention must begin before 

risky behaviors become normalized

The East Baton Rouge Parish Be A BOSS Campaign is a youth prevention and 

engagement initiative aimed at:

• Empowering students to create peer-to-peer prevention messaging

• Encouraging healthy decision-making and substance-free lifestyles

• Increasing awareness of the risks associated with vaping and early 

substance use

• Providing young people with opportunities to become leaders and 

advocates in their communities

• Strengthening school and community partnerships around prevention effort

PRIZES

• 1st place $1500
• 2nd place $1000
• 3rd place $500
  
  

Teachers of the three winning teams will each receive a $100 gift card

DEADLINES AND DATES:

• July 2026: Campaign launch and school outreach begin as teachers return

• August 2026: School recruitment and promotional activities (August 6^th they return to school)
  
  
• September 25, 2026: Student submission deadline
  
  
• Late September 2026: Judging and scoring process
  
  
• October 6, 2026: Awards ceremony and winner announcements.

Sponsored By: