Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. The National Family Partnership organized the first nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children. In 1997, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (now the Department of State Health Services) began committing resources to ensure the continuation of the Red Ribbon Campaign in Texas, as well as the hopes and beliefs behind this grassroots effort to protect children from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs.
Red Ribbon Campaign in 2013
This year’s Red Ribbon Week was celebrated from October 23 – 31, 2013. In Texas, it began with a kickoff event on October 17 at the Texas State Capitol, called the Capitol Red Ribbon Rally. This event brought together more than 1,000 elementary school students from across the state for a motivational rally and other drug prevention activities.
Red Ribbon Week at Andrews
During the Week of October 21, 2013, our kids participated in this national celebration of events, designed to educate and increase awareness about drug abuse and prevention, including:
- “Be on the Team that Makes Andrews Drug Free” – Wear your favorite team’s shirt
- “Sock It To Drugs” – Wear your crazy socks
- “Being Drug Free is No Sweat” – Wear your favorite sweats or warm-ups
- “We’re Drug Free – Show Your Andrews Spirit” – Wear your Andrews spirit shirt or wear as much red as you can.
The Story Of Red Ribbon
Red Ribbon is a national event honoring Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who was killed in 1985 by drug traffickers. Soon after, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in high schools in California, and hundreds of students pledged to lead drug-free lives. Two club members presented the “Camarena Club Proclamation” to then first lady Nancy Reagan, bringing it national attention. Parent groups embraced the campaign, and in 1988, Congress proclaimed the first U.S. Red Ribbon Campaign. The Texas Department of State Health Services, along with others, provides resources to ensure the continuation of the Red Ribbon Campaign in Texas and to support the hopes and beliefs that fuel the grassroots effort to keep children drug-free.
For more information on Red Ribbon Week, visit:
http://www.redribbonresources.com/
http://www.drugfreetexas.org/red-ribbon/
https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonWeek