Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 23 and running through Oct. 31, Red Ribbon Week will highlight the importance of a drug and alcohol-free initiative for students all over the country.
Schools across our nation will highlight the event through various media campaigns, community events, school projects and coalitions like the National Family Partnership, which organized the first nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. individuals.
The first Red Ribbon celebration was organized in 1986 by an organization of parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers.
The campaign has since reached millions of children and has been recognized by the U.S. Congress.
As in previous years, the wearing of the red ribbon symbolizes what Camarena did for children in the prevention of drug abuse. Without his bravery and efforts to stop drugs from entering our country across borders, many more children and families would be affected by drugs like heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines.
We know we can't stop all the drugs from being transported across the borders, but without the efforts of so many in the DEA like Camarena, drugs would continue to multiply rapidly and end up on our streets being sold to children of all ages.
Nancy Reagan realized this in her efforts to stop drug abuse. She was the one who came up with the idea of Red Ribbon Week so people would not forget.
This year, like so many other communities throughout the nation, the Fort Knox Army Substance Abuse Program will recognize this special week by participating with Fort Knox schools in supporting special programs and guests to speak on preventing substance abuse.
We also encourage parents to speak to their children about drunk driving and the dangers of using other drugs -- making these high risk choices may cost you or others a life.
The message begins at home. Parents are the single biggest influence on their children to make the right choices, especially when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse.
If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding Red Ribbon Week and the events being offered, call our office at (502) 624-1532 or visit http://redribbon.org/.
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