From October 23-31 we collectively participate in Red Ribbon Week. Many, if not all of our schools will join in celebrating a week of drug awareness. Spending a small amount of time on redribbion.org, the story of Red Ribbon week and its creation can be found and the story of Enrique (Kiki) Camarena a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985.
“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.”
Red Ribbon week is not only an activity for children but a call to parents and communities to become active in the education and understanding regarding the harmful effects of Drugs and Alcohol. We as community members must come forward and teach our children about the realities of and negative consequences of Substance Abuse. We must encourage, teach, and guide children to healthy alternatives.
RedRibbon.org encourages everyone to take the red ribbon pledge:
As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.
We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
We will monitor our children's behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse
Red Ribbon week is reminder for us that we are tasked with the responsibility to parent the young people in our homes and communities. A sounded call to unite for the betterment of our family, all of our family.
