Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week October 23-31st
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program and reaches millions of Americans each year from October 23rd to October 31st in thousands of schools, communities and drug abuse prevention organizations. Red Ribbon Anti-Drug Campaign is a community’s response to tragedy to honor Special Agent Camarena’s memory and visibly show a dedication to avoid drug abuse.
The 2010 Red Ribbon Week Them is, “I am Drug Free – See the Connection…Choices=Consequences”.
By wearing red, decorating with ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena who dedicated his life to helping others remain drug free.
How did Red Ribbon start?
Red Ribbon started with KiKi Camerena. Enrique “Kiki” Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference. Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. “I can’t not do this,” he told her. “I’m only one person, but I want to make a difference.”
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent’s side and shoved him in a car.Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by members of a drug gang in Mexico. It took a search by 500 special U.S. agents a month to find his battered body in a shallow grave on a ranch in Mexico. He was buried with honors in his hometown of Calexico, California.
In honor of Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory: The Red Ribbon.
On February 7, 1985, undercover Drug Enforcement In honor of Kiki, the first Camarena (Red Ribbon) Club was formed in April of 1985 at Calexico High School where Kiki Camarena and Henry Lozano graduated in 1966. Kiki’s Memory Unites The Nation To Fight Substance Abuse.
How to Celebrate Red Ribbon Week?
It is estimated that more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year. The campaign is a unified way for communities to take a stand against drugs and show intolerance for illicit drug use and the consequences to all Americans. Schools, businesses, the faith community, media, families, and community coalitions join together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week in many ways, such as: sponsoring essay and poster contests; organizing drug-free races; decorating buildings in red; handing out red ribbons to customers; holding parades or community events; and by publicizing the value of a drug-free, healthy lifestyle.
Ribbon week is designed to help teachers keep kids off tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Office of Prevention provides numerous resources for your school based efforts, below are some available Red Ribbon Week RESOURCES and LINKS from both our office and from other prevention promoters.
RED RIBBON RESOURCES:
Click here to view the Office of Prevention 2008/09, middle and high school student, 45 minute Power Point presentation on Red Ribbon Week.
Red Ribbon K-12 Classroom Exercises & Lessons
Just Think Twice – Teacher’s Guide
101-red-ribbon-activity-booklet
red-ribbon-2005-community-action-guide
Red Ribbon 2009 Planning Guide
Stumbleweed Magazine for Teens
RED RIBBON LINKS:
Just Think Twice – for Middle and High Students
SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
communities and drug abuse prevention organizations throughout the
country distribute red ribbons to honor Special Agent Camarena’s memory
and visibly show a dedication to avoid drug abuse.