Red ribbon week

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Red Ribbon Week is a United States initiative of prevention and education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. During this week in October, students all over the country make pledges to live drug and alcohol free.

Red Ribbon Week is the most far-reaching and well-known drug prevention event in America. The National Family Partnership estimates that over 80 million Americans participate in Red Ribbon events.

The first Red Ribbon Celebration was organized in 1985 by an organization of parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers.

Congressman Duncan Hunter and teacher David Dhillon launched "Camarena Clubs" in California high schools and in 1985 club members presented a proclamation to Nancy Reagan. Later that year, parents in California, Illinois and Virginia began to promote wearing red ribbons during late October. In 1988, the first National Red Ribbon Week was proclaimed by the U.S. Congress and chaired by Nancy Reagan [1].

Many children in schools are given red ribbons to wear, usually saying a drug-free motto.

Red Ribbon Week usually occurs in the last week of October each year.