Marking Red Ribbon Week

The Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition is marking Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 17-25. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest, largest drug-prevention awareness campaign in the country, and takes place the last full week in October annually.

Red Ribbon Week encourages individuals and communities across the United States to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug-free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of a drug-free America.

According to the Red Ribbon Coalition, the Red Ribbon Celebration Pledge is: "No Use of Illegal Drugs, No Illegal Use of Legal Drugs." The Red Ribbon Celebration Pledge represents a no-nonsense, clear and consistent promise that students, parents, teachers and community leaders should be willing to make -- and more importantly -- expected to keep.

This year's Red Ribbon Celebration Theme is "Dream, Believe, Achieve, Succeed." The theme is meant to inspire young people. It also reminds adults that we must work every day to support the development of "protective factors" (skills and competencies) that every young person needs in his/her life in order to prevent alcohol, tobacco, other drug use and violence.

There are three categories of protective factors: Caring relationships, high expectations and meaningful participation. Each category should be experienced in the following four domains: At home, school, among peers and in the community. Research has shown that promoting the development of protective factors is an effective prevention strategy.

Red Ribbon Week began in honor of Drug Enforcement Agency special agent Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena, a former Marine and veteran officer who was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the Mexican drug cartels in February 1985. He was undercover for four and a half years in Mexico, on the trail of Mexico's biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. In early 1985, he was close to unlocking a multibillion-dollar drug pipeline. However, before he was able to expose the drug trafficking operations, he was kidnapped on Feb. 7, 1985. He was killed soon after and his body found March 5, 1985. He was 37 years old, an 11-year veteran of the DEA, married with three children.

Shortly after Camarena's death, then-U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, and high school friend Henry Lozano launched Camarena Clubs in Camarena's hometown of Calexico, Calif. Hundreds of club members and teachers wore red ribbons and pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Kiki Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans.

Red Ribbon Week eventually gained momentum throughout California and the United States. In 1985, club members presented the "Camarena Club Proclamation" to first lady Nancy Reagan, which brought the club national attention. Later that summer, parent groups in California, Illinois and Virginia began promoting the wearing of Red Ribbons nationwide during late October. The campaign was then formalized in 1988 with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons. Today, the eight eights of Red Ribbon Week is sponsored by the National Family Partnership and has become the annual catalyst to show intolerance for drugs in our schools, workplaces and communities. Each year, during the last week in October, more than 80 million youth and adults show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying the Red Ribbon.