BATON ROUGE — Three local schools were awarded cash prizes Tuesday night for their entries in an anti-drug public service announcement (PSA) contest aimed at curbing substance misuse across the Capital Region.

Students and school representatives gathered at the Louisiana Blue Customer Service Center on Bluebonnet Boulevard to accept their awards. Participating teams created eight distinct videos highlighting the dangers of substance abuse and encouraging peers to make healthier choices.

Thrive Academy captured first place and took home the top prize of $1,500. Helix Academy earned second place along with a $1,000 award, while Central High School received $500 for third place.

Central Mayor Wade Evans emphasized the real-world impact of student-led prevention efforts.

"If we can save one life, two lives, it's a benefit," Evans said. "I get all the 911 calls. I see all the numbers of unresponsive calls we get. I cringe every time I see a motor vehicle accident. When the 911 operator types into the calls that alcohol smell is present, you worry because it's preventable. Everything we deal with, for the most part, is preventable."

All eight student-produced videos will be shared across social media platforms to help spread the anti-drug message to a broader audience.