Support Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31, 2011 and Help Create a Drug-Free Environment

Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the United States, is coming up soon. This year, the annual week-long event takes place October 23-31, 2011. It’s a time when people and communities can take the opportunity to come together and unite in a visible stand against drugs.

The theme of this year’s event is "It’s Up To Me To Be Drug Free." This couldn’t be more appropriate, as prevention of drug use and abuse certainly begins with individual efforts and commitment. Each of us, in fact, shares a personal responsibility to help create a drug-free environment in which we live, work and play.

Why the Red Ribbon Campaign Started

The origins of the Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1985 when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique ("Kiki") Camarena. Following this brutal and senseless murder, the practice of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs began. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and highly visible community commitment towards the creation of a drug-free America.

The national sponsor of the Red Ribbon Campaign is the National Family Partnership. This is a group that helps citizens across the United States to work together to keep children, families and communities safe, healthy and drug-free. They do this through providing parent training, networking and sponsoring the National Red Ribbon Campaign.

Sign the Red Ribbon Pledge

The facts point up how important parental involvement is in preventing drug abuse among our children. Research shows that children of parents who regularly talk to their teens about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t communicate with their children about these dangers. Yet this same research shows that only a quarter of teens report having these conversations with their parents.

How can individuals support Red Ribbon Week? It’s easy.

Everyone can start by taking the Red Ribbon Pledge. Go to the Red Ribbon Campaign website and sign the pledge.

In essence, what we do when we take the pledge is:

Learn more about Support Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31, 2011 and Help Create a Drug-Free Environment

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