Asana Recovery

TEEN FROM UTAH WINS OPERATION PREVENTION VIDEO CHALLENGE

TEEN FROM UTAH WINS OPERATION PREVENTION VIDEO CHALLENGE

In 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that 22.5 million Americans (ranging from 12 years of age and older) admitted to needing treatment for an alcohol use disorder or the consumption of illegal drugs. Those statistics alone reveal the severity of the drug problem and reveal the shocking truth about how these dangerous substances are adversely affecting people of varying ages. In light of this, it is always relieving to see young people taking the upper hand. Recently, a teenager took viewers on a dangerous ride into the grim reality of drug abuse and has won a prestigious award for the detailed story, all captured through the magic of filmmaking. Let’s take a closer look.

Operation Prevention Video Challenge

Hosted annually, Operation Prevention Video Challenge is a contest involving the development of PSAs designed to alert the public about drug abuse. Every year, teenagers from high schools across the nation work diligently to create videos that expose viewers to the horrors of opioids and heroin. Ultimately, judges from Discovery Education and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), as well as a collective of teachers and educators, select four winners (including people’s choice).

“Waiting to Die”

Judges ultimately selected Porter Christensen from Pineview High School in Utah as the first place winner. His PSA “Waiting to Die” is a journey into the mind of a teenager who experiments with opioids and experiences terrible changes in his life. Besides winning the prestigious award, Christensen earned a $10,000 scholarship. As for the inspiration for his video, he explains that being the director and the star was a challenging process but completely worth it, particularly for the purpose of informing the public.

Runners-up include:

  • 2nd Place: “One Bad Choice” by Palmer Williams (Hillgrove High School, Powder Springs, GA)
  • 3rd Place: “This Isn’t You” by Calvin Simon, Elijah Mitchell, Hassiara McNeal, and Jessica Ohlsen (Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Atlantic County, NJ)
  • People’s Choice: “Don’t Do It” by Garrett Miller, Ayanna Fourte, Robert Smith, and ZaQuan Muhammed (Kenwood Academy, Chicago, IL)

Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance abuse disorder or addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Out counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.

The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug addiction troubles today.