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# Speak Up, Save a Life
**What is Speak up, Save a Life?**
The Opioid Epidemic is devastating families and communities nationwide. According to Maryland Department of Health, the number of drug and alcohol-related intoxication deaths occurring in Maryland increased in 2020, reaching an all-time high of 2,799 deaths, an 8% increase over the number of deaths (2,379) in 2019. Eighty-nine percent of all intoxication deaths that occurred in Maryland in 2020 were opioid-related. To tackle this epidemic and reduce the number of overdose deaths, the State's Attorney's Office for Montgomery County has initiated Speak up, Save a Life, an Opioid Overdose Education and Prevention Program. Our mission is to educate students, families, and the community about the opioid epidemic and provide knowledge of Maryland's Good Samaritan Law.
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### **2024 Annual "Speak Up, Save a Life" Student Video Contest Winners**
!We're excited to promote the “Speak Up, Save a Life” program in our community through our annual video contest!
The 2024 Video Contest Winners are posted on the
We're deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors, The Good Samaritan Fund and
 Their generosity has made this contest possible and is a testament to their commitment to our cause.
Speak up, Save a Life Toolkit
The purpose of the toolkit is to provide access to information and resources regarding the opioid epidemic that students, teachers, parents, and the community can use to educate themselves and others. Included materials in the toolkit are easy-to-download and adaptable presentations, handouts and audio-visual instructions for the education and prevention of opioid overdose.
For those seeking materials, please download the materials, which include a Parent Presentation, Student Presentation, and Handout.
Materials:
*  English and Spanish Versions
*  English Version
Handouts:
Resources
Opioids
The Good Samaritan Law
Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan.
Online Resources
State's Attorney John McCarthy
State's Attorney's Office
50 Maryland Avenue, 5th Floor, North Tower
Rockville, MD 20850
Office: (240) 777-7300 | Fax: (240) 777-7413
Email: 
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
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###### Translation
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Copyright 2025  - All Rights Reserved.
# 2024 Annual Speak Up, Save a Life Video Contest
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This contest challenges teenagers to create an original video to promote awareness about the dangers of illicit opioids, fentanyl, and the risk of overdose. The video contest is open to all 6th - 12th-grade students living in Montgomery County. The top prize is $4,000; second place is $2,000; third place and fan favorite winners will receive $750, all donated by The Good Samaritan Fund and The Magnolia Companies in honor of two young Montgomery County residents lost to fentanyl: Michael Pisarra and Matthew Loudon.
In 2024, we received more than 600 entries. At the awards ceremony, The Good Samaritan Fund surprised students who created 10 “honorable mention” videos with $500 prizes.
#### 1st Place Winner and Fan Favorite $4,750.00 Cash Prize
**You Have One Life Not Nine**, By: Erol Kalayoglu & Zachary Carter,
Montgomery Blair High School
#### 2nd place Winner of $2000.00 Cash Prize
**The 2MG Killer**,
By: TJ Lau,
Julius West Middle School
#### 3rd Place Winner of $750.00 Cash Prize
**Protect A Friend**,
By: Sully Dettleff & Thomas Cooney,
The Heights School
#### Honorable Mention $500.00 Cash Prize
**Just Some Pills, Right,**
By: Chloe Baczkowski, Lea Laraque, Hannah Dufour, and Holly Wagner,
North Bethesda Middle School
**You Are Not A Burden**,
By: Ahura Ahmadi,
Quince Orchard High School
**Last Breath**,
By: Roman Stemp, and Victoria Regachuelo,
**One Is All It Takes,**
By: Sam Bringman, Eli Hotchkiss, Cyrus Froozan, Braxton Thornburgh, and Jordan Alexiev,
Walter Johnson High School
**Just One**,
By: Ahrin Letoureau, Ryan Heminsley, and Meher Parsinni,
**Help Without Fear**,
By: Penelope Maria Sales Knight,
Cabin John Middle School
**One Heart Half Beating**,
By: Mary Gillon, and Maeve Stillman,
St. John’s College High School
**Don't Do Drugs For Those You Love And Inner Child**,
By: Helena Bedran Naumann, Maya Cohen, and Frederico Rodriguez,
Walt Whitman High School
**Gambling With Life**,
By: Luke Picoult,
Richard Montgomery High School
**Find True Resilience**,
By: Nathalie Gomez Aguilar, and Leidis Gutierrez Granado,
Wheaton and Kennedy High Schools
## Speak Up, Save a Life 2023 Student Video Contest Winners and Honorable Mentions:
### 1st Place and Fan Favorite:
“Dangers of Fentanyl - Forever 16” – Jabea Ewane, Steven Santiago,Thomas Pettit (Watkins Mill High School)
### 2nd Place:
“I’ll Never Tell” – Elessar Issenberg (Northwood High School)
### 3rd Place:
“Learn the Facts about Teen Drug Abuse” - Jasper Chen (Thomas W. Pyle Middle School)
### Honorable Mention:
“Bear Witness”–Kaia Koumoutseas, Leonardo Ramos (Col. Zadok Magruder High School)
“Raising Awareness, Saving Futures: The Dangers of Fentanyl” –Jeremiah Washington (Paint Branch High School)
If you have questions about the contest, please email
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