Building Character
UPDFCC and UPSCM Present their First Annual Substance Use Prevention Poster Contest
Substance Use Prevention Poster Contest
Submit a substance abuse prevention poster with a clear message promoting a substance-free lifestyle for young people for the chance to win a prize! Students can focus on any substance or combination such as marijuana, alcohol, vaping, or opioids.
Who Can Enter:
6th-8th grade students living in Miami-Dade County
How to Enter:
Create a poster using either digital art media or freestyle media (markers, ink, pencils, pastels, watercolor, painting, collage, mixed media, or any combination).
Submit a completed entry form and your poster to: updfcc@myga.org or
Scroll to the bottom of this page to enter now!
Size Requirement:
Designs must be landscape oriented, 8″ wide, and 5″ high.
*NEW ENTRY DEADLINE: Friday, May 12th, 2023, 11:59 pm.
Prizes
1st Place will win $500 and your poster will be shown on public transit buses across Miami-Dade County.
2nd place will win $250.
3rd place will win $100.
Tips and Resources
Examples of Short, Positive, Alcohol Prevention Messages
- Be wise: be drug-free.
- When you start drinking, you stop thinking.
- Substances ties you in knots.
- Save your brain, be alcohol-free.
- Vape-free keeps you smart.
The Do’s:
- Write a positive, short, catchy substance prevention message.
- Keep the poster images positive.
- Try to include one fact about how substances affect youth.
- Avoid using pictures of paraphernalia in your artwork.
- Avoid beginning your message with “Don’t.”
- Use original or copyright-free artwork.
- Write your message in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole.
The Do Not’s:
- Do not use scary pictures or messages (i.e. no car crashes, grim reapers, tombstones, etc.).
- Do not use cartoon characters that are copyright protected (i.e., Sponge Bob, Shrek).
- Do not use brand name products on the posters (e.g., Snickers, Doritos, Coca-Cola).
- Do not use profanity or vulgar language
Alcohol Facts (Use these facts and resources for your design!)
- Alcohol can cause your brain to feel foggy and make you think and see differently. (http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/alcohol)
- People who drink alcohol cannot control their behavior and they may do silly things or be violent. Their movements are more clumsy and uncoordinated. (cyh.com/healthtopicdetailskids.aspx)
- Kids who start drinking by 15 have a 4 times great chance of becoming addicted to alcohol. (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/)
- It is illegal for anyone in the United States under the age of 21 to buy or drink alcohol. (pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/alcohol)
- Alcohol is a depressant. That means it’s a drug that slows down or depresses the brain. (http://kidshealth.org/kid/)
- Binge drinking, which is drinking five or more drinks in a row by males or four or more drinks in a row by females, can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can cause death. (http://kidshealth.org/teen/)