Deadline to Enter New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Competition is February 1

January 8, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2018

Contact: Matt Birchenough, Media Coordinator 201-916-1032, media@drugfreenj.org

MILLBURN —New Jersey high school students are invited to share their musical drug prevention messages as part of the 2018 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music competition, organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

In its 14^th year, the contest encourages high school students to create songs with original music and lyrics that contain a strong peer-to-peer prevention message. Whether the song is R&B, rock, jazz, hip hop or soul, the goal is to spread the importance of avoiding substance use.

All songs must be submitted by February 1. Contest information, rules and entry forms are available at www.shoutdowndrugs.com.

After the songs are entered, independent panels of judges will select county finalists to perform in the statewide Prevention Concert, which will be held Friday, April 27, at the Daytop New Jersey Auditorium in Mendham.

There also will be two periods of online voting. Following the first, from February 16 to March 2, the top vote-getter will earn an automatic spot in the Prevention Concert. During the second voting period, from March 5 through April 26, voters can choose their favorite finalists, and the online tallies will be factored into each performer’s final score the night of the concert.

The concert first-place winner will receive a $5,000 music contract, second place will earn a $3,000 contract, and third place will take home a $2,000 contract.

For more information on the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs competition and concert, contact Diane Higgins at 973-467-2100 Ext. 19 or diane@drugfreenj.org.

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Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception the Partnership has garnered 166 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.