Barnegat Teen in Finals of NJ Contest to Shout Down Drugs

Brigid Harrington needs your votes on March 9th. The Barnegat 15-year-old is a finalist in the statewide "Shout Down Drugs" competition by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. 

The Lakehurst Performing Arts Academy High School Freshman had to write and sing a song with an anti-drug message. Although she's been on Broadway, as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, and a former contestant on "America's Got Talent" (season 5) along with her sister Shannon, Brigid said this contest appealed to her on a personal level.

"I know lots of people who've lost their lives to drugs," said Harrington.

Her entry garnered the most online votes, something she credits the support of friends from around New Jersey and as far away as the Philippines and Italy, as well as the power of social media.

"I wanted my song to bring the power of music and social media to make a power difference," she said.

Harrington laughed that pointing out that while social media can spread some "stupid" things, it can also spread some very powerful messages.

"Maybe other kids won't be scared and pass that message on that they don't do drugs just by putting the hashtag #IDONTDODRUGS at the end of each tweet," said Harrington.

Harrington and the other finalists will perform live in April at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark when a winner is selected.

First, second and third place winners are chosen by a panel of judges that night to receive music contracts worth $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 respectively to perform their winning songs at different events throughout the state during the year, according to www.shoutdowndrugs.com. The website also has links where you can vote for the finalists.

Listen to the song here:

//townsquare.media/site/394/files/2015/02/Brigid%20Harrington%20-%20IDontDoDrugs-Song.mp3