Red Ribbon Week is an important tradition for schools and community organizations to promote substance use prevention, which includes alcohol, tobacco/electronic cigarettes, marijuana, and other drugs. The event is typically celebrated the last week of October, but schools may adapt the dates to fit their particular needs and school schedule.
Red Ribbon Week started in 1988 in response to the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. In 1985, Kiki Camarena was on assignment in Guadalajara, Mexico when he was kidnapped and killed by drug traffickers. His murder brought anger to the community and was a catalyst for the Red Ribbon Campaign. Together in Kiki’s honor, parents and youth in communities nationwide began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness about the destruction caused by drugs. Red Ribbon Week is not a program but an awareness event designed to increase citizen participation in community and school-based prevention efforts. The aspect of planning and working together is as important as Red Ribbon Week itself because it creates a sense of community and shared values. To learn more please visit:
https://www.redribbon.org/faq.
