Red Ribbon Week campaign and drug prevention oldest in the country. Although the start end dates can vary slightly depending on the organization and source,Red Ribbon Week generally takes place the last week in October, with the weekends before and after the last full week celebration included dates appropriate. This year's Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated October 23 to 31, 2010.
Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and personal commitment to live a life without drugs the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.
And, perhaps most importantly, the Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffikers Mexico while fighting against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.
The story behind the symbol
Enrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a house with dirt floor with hopes and dreams of making a difference.
Camarena worked his way through university, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk to him. "I can not not do it," he said. "I'm one person, but I want to make a difference."
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers of the army, police and the Mexican government. February 7, 1985, 37 years Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared alongside the officer and pushed him into a car. A month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death. 1
A few weeks after his death in March of 1985, the member of Camarena, Duncan Hunter and high school friend Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley, California, Camarena's home. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free life to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. 2 These coalitions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, like the memory of a symbol Camarena. Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of these clubs and coalitions.
Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to preserve the memory of Special Agent Camarena and advance the cause for which he gave his life. The red ribbon has also become a symbol of support for the efforts of the DEA to reduce drug demand through prevention programs and education. Wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. They pay homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation's fight against drug trafficking and abuse. 3
How we can help
Prevention Partners can help you plan your celebration with our Red Ribbon week activities for Red Ribbon Week and classroom exercises.
In addition, we can help your Red Ribbon Project Celebration Week strong and unified, positive message that will help your community to take a position visible to the creation of a community free of drugs.
Our products carry positive messages that can be used not only for Red Ribbon Week, but also for other drug prevention campaigns and underage drinking, as Pray for the children and Prom Promise.
Prevention Partners began offering products with positive messages to support drug prevention efforts in 1995.
To see our products with messages of substance abuse prevention, click on this link: Drug Prevention Messages
To see our products with tobacco prevention messages, click on this link: Smoking Prevention Messages
To see our products with messages of prevention of underage drinking, click on this link: Underage Drinking Prevention Messages