Wakefield High School Student Wins Drug Safety PSA Contest from Harris Teeter

Arlington Public Schools announced earlier this week that Wakefield High School sophomore Vivian Alvarado was named the winner of the Harris Teeter Prescription Drug Safety PSA Contest. The contest was open to all high school students in Arlington, Alexandria and the District of Columbia.

Alvarado was awarded a $100 check earlier today during an awards ceremony attended by Casey Killough, director of pharmacy for Harris Teeter alongside representatives from Arlington Public Schools and the U.S. Department of Education. Two additional Wakefield High School students were recognized as runners up in the contest. Wakefield High School also received $500 from Harris Teeter.

In order to participate in the contest, students had to complete the Understanding Prescriptions module of EVERFI’s Prescription Drug Safety course. Students who completed the module then had to design a way to show what safe use, storage, or disposal of prescription drugs looks like in their community. Alvarado’s winning submission centered around supporting a friend, reinforcing one of the key skills that Alvarado learned while taking the Prescription Drug Safety course.

“At Wakefield, we appreciate Everfi’s support for educating students about the importance of making safe choices regarding prescription medications and other controlled substances,” said Dr. Willmore, Principal of Wakefield High School. “Decisions they make as young adults can have life-long consequences and so it is important to have this information.”

An interactive digital course, Prescription Drug Safety is designed to provide high school students with the knowledge and tools to make healthy, informed decisions when it comes to prescription medications. According to EVERFI, students who are prescribed opiates are 2.2 times more likely to misuse and two times more likely to abuse these drugs than their peers who are not prescribed opiates.

The Prescription Drug Safety course uses interactive scenarios and self-guided activities to help students learn the facts about drugs, how to properly use and dispose of them, and how to step in when faced with a situation involving misuse. The program includes six learning modules that cover topics such as the principles of addiction, and the medical uses and potential dangers of using different types of drugs, including opioids, stimulants, and depressants without a prescription.

“It is critical for our students to be learning this information, said Dr. Liz Payne from the Virginia Department of Education, not only for their own sake but for the sake of those around them and within our community. We are proud to recognize Vivian Alvarado and her teacher, Nan Holl, from Wakefield High School for leading the charge on prevention education. We are appreciative of the support from strong community advocates to provide the resources for us to implement within our schools.”