CLINTON - Partners in Community (PiC) opened up a competition to 6th-, 7th-, and 8th graders, challenging them, in the health class, to create a poster that could be used as a billboard to help send a message to deter prescription drug abuse. Three posters were submitted.

"It was difficult to choose a winner," said Kelley Edwards, PiC coordinator and Drug Free Communities grant coordinator.

The winning poster was created by a team of 6th-grade girls: Sarah Auletta, Aryn McQuarrie, Emma Farrell, Jillian Crowley, and Natalie Novarro. The poster's message is, "It's Not Candy!" and depicts a picture of a myriad of different pills poured together.

"We wanted to make something that would help young people think they shouldn't do drugs, and that you should try your hardest to stay on track," said McQuarrie.

"We wanted to make sure it was a simple picture because it's a simple message. We just want to encourage people, don't do drugs," said Navarro.

"We are proud of ourselves for winning this contest, and if our poster helps one person not try drugs, then it's done its job," said Farrell.

Edwards explained, "We wanted something that was going to be short and sweet and to the point and this poster is all that."

The poster will become a community staple on one of two billboards located on Route 1 in Clinton. It will remain there for several weeks as a reminder to everyone driving by not to abuse prescription drugs.

"More people die in Connecticut from prescription drug overdose than they do from drunk driving," said Clinton Human Services Director Peter Schultheis.

In an effort to fight the growing phenomenon of prescription drug abuse, PiC has also scheduled another drug take-back day for Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clinton Police Department. The first 30 people who come to give back their unneeded, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs will get a free medication lock box.

"The drug give-back day is a perfect way to get rid of everything in your medicine cabinet that you don't want anymore. All prescription drugs will be incinerated after collection," said Edwards, who advised residents to keep prescription drugs out of sight and locked up away from visitors.