Attorney General Josh Shapiro recently congratulated the winners of the Office of Attorney General’s 26th Annual Drug-Free Calendar Contest.

In October, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, fifth-grade students across the Commonwealth were invited to create an original piece of artwork that illustrates a drug-free message.

Works of art from 13 students were selected to appear in the 2023 calendar, which is circulated throughout the Commonwealth in an effort to educate the public about the dangers of drug use.

“Our annual calendar contest is about more than celebrating student artwork; it’s about empowering young people to make smart, safe choices,” said Shapiro.

“Combating the opioid epidemic continues to be one of my top priorities and we need a multipronged approach, including education to prevent drug use. Children must learn about the real dangers of substance abuse, and the calendar contest helps spread that message across the Commonwealth.”

Each month in the calendar is represented by one piece of artwork from a Pennsylvania student, with an additional student illustration on the front of the calendar. The winning entries were chosen from 624 submissions from 124 schools in 42 counties, based on the artists’ creativity, ability to illustrate, and the inclusion of a drug-free message.

Each selected student will receive a certificate and a $529 contribution to their Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which is supervised by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.

Alaina Gomez of Panther Valley Intermediate School was on the cover and Kylie Beahn of S.S. Palmer Elementary School was featured for February.

The drug-free calendar contest is funded through the Community Drug Abuse Prevention Fund.

Fines and penalties collected from certain offenses, such as driving under the influence, contribute to the fund.

Agents and specialists from the Office of Attorney General visit schools throughout the year to meet with children to educate them about the importance of staying drug free.

The programs feature customized lessons, interactive presentations and messages speaking directly to the audience.