Millburn Student Shouts Down Drugs

A singer, songwriter from Millburn High School has been selected as a finalist in the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Music Contest for her song “I Hope That You’ll Say No.” 

The high school junior, Nicole Levine, received the most votes out of the 110,000 votes cast for the first round of the contest from around the world for her original prevention song.

Levine hopes Millburn residents will help her song win by heading to the website, browsing her profile page and clicking vote. Online voting started Monday, April 1 and will continue until Wednesday, May 22.

In its third year, entries were submitted from across New Jersey, representing a wide range of artist styles and genres.

Levine has been a singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist since she was eight years old.

After learning about substance abuse-related tragedies in her community, she was inspired to enter the contest. Her goal was to inspire others to have the courage to say no to drugs and alcohol. 

Although she realizes it can be hard as a teenager, she "hopes that you’ll say no.”

Levine will also perform her song, along with 38 other finalists from all over New Jersey, at the NJSDD Annual Prevention Concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 23.

All online votes will be tallied and factored into the final scores by the judges on the night of the Prevention Concert. Comcast will air the concert on Comcast On Demand.

“In only a two week period, over 110,000 votes were cast, which is just astonishing,” said Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Angelo M. Valente. “More importantly young people from across the country -- hailing from 49 states and 44 countries across the globe received substance abuse prevention messages as a result of the voting.”

The top three winners will be competing for one of three music contracts worth $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 to perform their winning songs at different events throughout the state during the year.