To launch National Prevention Week (May 12-18), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the winners of the FentAlert Challenge! Receiving almost 200 entries, this nationwide challenge sought innovative ideas from U.S. youth aged 14-18 to develop community strategies to educate their peers about fentanyl and fake pills to prevent drug overdose deaths. The top six submissions will each be awarded a $5,000 prize, and 25 entries will receive a $2,000 honorable mention prize.

Monthly drug overdose deaths among adolescents aged 10-19 have increased by 109% from 2019 to 2021. Initiatives like the FentAlert Challenge highlight the crucial role of youth in driving conversations within their communities.

“The FentAlert Challenge is the first federal competition that raises voices of youth to engage their peers with messages that resonate. Congratulations to the winners of this year’s challenge,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. 

Here are the big FentAlert Challenge Winners! Check out their great work below:

“Dark Road” – Washington

“Escape Room” – Maryland

“Narcotic Nightmare Game” – California and Hawaii

“Project FentaNO!” – New York

“SAFE Youth Ambassadors” – Florida

“Show Don’t Tell” – New Jersey

Read SAMHSA’s full press release here