Red Ribbon Week 2007                         

October 2007

Red Ribbon Week began in 1988 to honor the life of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camerena who was brutally murdered by drug traffickers. Celebrated during the last week of October, Red Ribbon Week is a time for individuals, schools and entire communities to publicly communicate their committment to promoting a healthy drug-free lifestyle and creating awareness of the problems related to the use of alcohol and drugs. The wearing of red ribbons symbolizes the commitment made to this campaign and support of alcohol and drug prevention efforts in the community.

This year, the National Red Ribbon Week Celebration is October 23 - 31, 2007. By joining in the celebration, you can make a difference!!

You can:

Join the Red Ribbon Week activities at school

  • Find out about the activities and programs your local school is offering and ask how you can get involved. If the school hasn't yet planned for Red Ribbon Week, you might want to contact the Student Assistance Counselor in the district to discuss some possible ideas.

Partner with your Parent/School Association, scouts, sports teams, and other clubs

  • Encourage your town's mayor to officially proclaim Red Ribbon Week. Plan a special celebration to emphasize the message of having fun without using alcohol or drugs.
  • Distribute red ribbons to students, school personnel, parents, and local businesses and ask them to wear them duuring the week.
  • Decorate the community with red ribbons
  • Give out small prizes to people caught wearing red ribbons during the week.

Encourage open discussion about alcohol and drugs

  • Listen to your child's questions, notice their feelings, hear their concerns and respond to them directly.
  • Provide age-appropriate information to your child. If you need help deciding what to say, call The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources or the Student Assistance Counselor in your community for assistance.
  • Explain to your child what your "house rules" and expectation are in relation to smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using drugs. Tell them why.
  • Take notice of the messages you send to your child about smoking, drinking or using other drugs. Children pay close attention to what you do more than what you say.

If you suspect that there is a problem with using alcohol or other drugs, seek guidance and support from someone who understands the issues and can point you in a positive direction. The professional staff at The Center can help answer your questions and direct you to appropriate community resources.

Contact The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources at (201) 488-8680 or info@tcard.org