Sen. Sullivan Announces Fentanyl Awareness Competition for Alaska High School Students

Sen. Dan Sullivan has formally announced a competition for high school students across Alaska to help raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl in their community.

The contest is open to e are asking students to launch a “One Pill Can Kill” media campaign to reach high school students. The campaign can reach students in a variety of ways: posters in hallways, advertisements in student newspapers, or videos on social media are a few examples. Creativity is key. The campaigns should use the “One Pill Can Kill” messaging and highlight the dangers of fentanyl, the risks of non-prescription drug use, and the importance of staying informed and seeking help.

After launching the campaign, contestants must submit a report to Senator Sullivan’s communications team explaining their campaign, how it was executed and what they learned.

Examples of the campaign’s media materials must be included or linked to in the report. Reports will be submitted via a link on Senator Sullivan’s website that will become available in February.

Key judging criteria includes the effectiveness of the campaign, ability to reach the intended audience, is the campaign innovative and finally, are the facts about fentanyl and the risks associated correct and well-researched, does it incorporate the theme of “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska?”

While all campaigns will be featured on Senator Sullivan’s website, the winning campaign will work with Senator Sullivan’s communications team to design public service announcements featured as part of the statewide “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska” campaign. It will be shared on the Senator’s social media channels and offered for distribution to local television, radio, and print media across Alaska.

The competition is part of the statewide “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska” public awareness campaign that Senator Sullivan launched in May. Since the campaign began, Senator Sullivan has highlighted the One Pill Can Kill campaign in community visits, roundtables and student listening sessions across the state, including in Wasilla, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Cordova, Valdez, Glenallen, Kotzebue and Utqiagvik. Most recently, Senator Sullivan met with student leaders on October 23 in Wasilla and again on October 24 in Anchorage to preview the new competition.

“In May, Governor Dunleavy and I began a fentanyl awareness campaign to combat an epidemic that has tragically taken the lives of a record number of Alaskans,” Senator Sullivan said. “I said then that we would work hard to enlist the help of all Alaskans to fight this crisis. After hearing from youth across our state, it became clear that in order for this campaign to succeed, young Alaskans in particular would need to play a big role. As one student told me during my listening sessions across the state, the ‘One Pill Can Kill’ message is a lot stronger when it comes from your peers. That’s why we’re launching this One Pill Can Kill competition for high school students across our state. By harnessing the creative and bright minds of Alaska’s next generation of leaders, I hope we can finally turn the tide against this horrendous plague on our communities.”

“I completely agree with Senator Sullivan that one of the most powerful tools in the fight against fentanyl is the voices of young Alaskans speaking the truth to their peers,” Sandy Snodgrass, mother of fentanyl victim, Bruce Snodgrass, and director of the AK Fentanyl Response Project said. “I believe young Alaskans will hear the message that all illicit drugs must be presumed to be contaminated with fentanyl when they hear the facts directly from their peers. I would like to thank Senator Sullivan for holding this awareness competition. It will save Alaskan lives!”

Students who participate in the competition will gain valuable experience in media and public affairs campaigns – important life experiences that will also serve their communities.

The submission deadline is February 28, 2025, and winners will be announced March 14, 2025.

For more information on the competition and the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, please visit www.sullivan.senate.gov/onepill