North Royalton High School sophomore, Linsey Wu, won first place in her grade category for the Chasing the Dragon Poster Contest, depicting the dangers of drug abuse. Local teens in grades 7th – 12th were invited to create and submit a poster that focused on the consequences of using heroin and/or misuse of prescription opioids, following the theme, The cost of the Dragon.
Lindsey heard about the contest through the high school club STAND (Students Together Against Negative Decision). “My time with STAND inspired me to be a voice for awareness for the dangers of drugs and smoking,” said Lindsey.
“Not only is Lindsey a good artist, she is also a positive role model. I am very proud of her,” said Sheri Stafford, Partnership for a Healthy North Royalton and STAND helper. “Her concern for and commitment to helping others is shown in her poster.”
The winners received an award and cash prize provided by the FBI Cleveland Citizens Academy Foundation on Wednesday, May 22 at the FBI Cleveland Division Field Office located Downtown Cleveland. The winning posters will be displayed in several public venues.
“I was overwhelmed by how amazing all the posters were,” said Lindsey. “I could tell that other kids felt the same passion I did. I was also surprised by the creativity and quality of the works— one of them had blinking lights on it!”
More than one hundred seventy posters were submitted from forty schools in the Northern District of Ohio.
Lindsey’s poster features a seated man clutching his knees with a syringe in his back. A dragon is wrapped around the syringe. “I wanted to depict that chasing the dragon, or opioid, will eventually stab you in the back and cost you your life,” says Lindsey. “The man is bent in the shape of a skull to represent that the drug is taking his life from within him.”
In 2016, The FBI and DEA collaborated and produced a documentary entitled, “Chasing the Dragon: the Life of an Opiate Addict.” This documentary was created to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of the dangers of opioid addiction. Heroin use and the misuse of prescription opioids continue to increase in pandemic proportions everywhere, including here in Northeast Ohio. Overdose deaths in our area are among the highest in the country.
In continuing its awareness of this public health concern, the Cleveland Division of the FBI, along with the Cleveland Division of the DEA, the Northern District of Ohio United States Attorney’s Office, Westshore Enforcement Bureau, Robby’s Voice, and the FBI Cleveland Citizens Academy Foundation held its annual Chasing the Dragon contest this spring.
After high school Lindsey plans on going to college. As of now, she is undecided on what college and major, but hopes to find her passion. “Seeing the FBI agents, Monica Robins, Bob Brandt, and all the other speakers talk about how fulfilling their work is, makes me hope to find the same fulfillment in the future,” said Lindsey.
