The 2018 National Red Ribbon Week theme: Life is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free™.
WHAT IS RED RIBBON WEEK?
The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week®, October 23rd – October 31st each year. It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, October 23 – 31st.
HOW DID RED RIBBON WEEK ORIGINATE?
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was killed in Mexico in 1985. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. “I’m only one person”, he told her, “but I want to make a difference.”
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.
In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families. The National Family Partnership and its network of individuals and organizations continue to deliver his message of hope to millions of people every year, through the National Red Ribbon Campaign™.
These drug free items are donated by such a community coalition, Floyd Against Drugs. Hope you enjoy and remember, LIFE IS YOUR JOURNEY. TRAVEL DRUG FREE.
DID YOU KNOW?
Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. Check out https://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking for tips on talking to your children. This applies to talking about both alcohol and other drugs.
Find out more about the Red Ribbon Campaign at www.redribbon.org.
Floyd County Red Ribbon Week Activities
Drug Free Activity books will be given to PK – 2nd grades, color changing pencils to 3 – 5thgrades, ear buds to middle schools, and red silicon bracelets with a drug free message to the high schools. This represents 16,778 items that will be provided to all Rome City and Floyd County schools, Unity Christian School, St. Mary’s Catholic School, and Georgia School for the Deaf. The items will be delivered to the schools within the next couple of weeks for Red Ribbon Week which is October 23 – 31st.
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