Terry Goddard Announces Statewide Meth Contest Winners, Shows New Prevention Ads

(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 2, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today visited Capitol School in Phoenix to recognize winners of the 2010 Meth Not Even Once Poster Contest and unveil the next phase of the Arizona Meth Project’s dynamic youth prevention campaign.

Research-based prevention ads depict the destructive impact meth can have on the friends and family of those who use the drug. The radio, print, and television ads that are at the heart of the campaign will begin to air in the greater Phoenix area media market this week with a hard-hitting message.

In November, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Meth Project invited 7th and 8th graders across Arizona to participate in the Meth Not Even Once Poster Contest. The contest is part of a comprehensive campaign to make young people more aware of the dangers of meth. More than 500 students submitted entries.

Goddard recognized the following winning students: 

  • First Place: Jenna Poarch, 8th grade, Thatcher Middle School, Thatcher 
  • Second Place: Alyssa Castillo, 7th grade, Williams Middle School, Williams 
  • Third Place:  Osiel Ferrer, 8th grade, Capitol School, Phoenix

Honorable mention was awarded to 12 students who will be recognized in local events at their schools:

  • Joshua Vidalez, 7th grade Issac Middle School, Phoenix 
  • Steven Cordova, 8th grade Show Low Junior High, Show Low
  • Moniah Madaro, 8th grade Zuni Hills Elementary, Sun City 
  • Dillion Green, 7th grade, Explorer Middle School, Phoenix 
  • David Carranza, 7th grade, Explorer Middle School, Phoenix 
  • Ashleigh Vellutato, 8th grade, Zuni Hills Elementary, Sun City 
  • Korina Adkins, 7th grade, Williams Middle School, Williams
  • Luis Pereira, 8th grade, Greenway Middle School, Phoenix 
  • Nancy Li, 8th grade, Wilson Elementary School, Tucson 
  • Raven Germaine, 7th grade, Thatcher Middle School, Thatcher 
  • Natalie Vergara, 7th grade, Bullhead City Junior High, Bullhead City 
  • Sadie Dancel, 7th grade, Luke Elementary, Glendale

Contest winners received first, second and third place prizes of $500, $350 and $150 respectively, along with prizes from Peter Piper Pizza and Harkins Theaters.  Honorable mention award winners received $25.

“The Not Even Once message communicated in these gritty ads is clearly working,”
Goddard said. “The Arizona Meth Project has achieved profound changes in the way methamphetamine is perceived by Arizona children and families. Since the launch of the Arizona Meth Project campaign, use of the drug among youth has significantly declined, falling by more than half in many categories.”

“For years, meth has been the number one problem for law enforcement in Arizona,” Goddard added. “Given our state’s economic challenges, preventing crime becomes all the more important. By keeping our communities safe, we also can save public dollars. One area where we can make a big cost-saving difference is drug prevention, and in particular, preventing meth use. Methamphetamine costs the United States nearly $24 billion a year, according to a study by the RAND Corporation.”

In early 2007, Goddard, in partnership with 10 Arizona counties, including Maricopa County, and local anti-meth coalitions, launched the Arizona Meth Project to reduce meth use by Arizona youth. The project is built around a gritty television, radio and print advertising campaign designed to teach young people ages 12-17 about the negative impact meth has on a person’s physical health, family and peer group, as well as the potential to become addicted after only one use.

The 2010 poster, along with the winning artwork and more information about meth, can be found on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov, as well as on the Arizona Meth Project web site,www.arizonamethproject.org.

For more information, contact Molly Edwards at (602) 542-8019.

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