Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually during October 23rd-31st as an initiative to raise awareness about the importance of staying drug-free. During this week, both youth and adults in communities and schools across the nation pledge to live drug-free by wearing red ribbons and participating in anti-drug events.
Red Ribbon Week was founded in memory of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who tragically lost his life in 1985 when he was murdered by drug traffickers that he was investigating in Mexico. In honor of his sacrifice, people from Special Agent Camarena’s hometown started wearing red ribbons, and today, decades later, millions of people acknowledged Red Ribbon Week by wearing red ribbons and pledging to live a life free of drugs.
This week is also an opportunity for parents, schools, teachers, and communities to reinforce the message of staying drug-free and increase the knowledge on the destructive effects of drug use, including prescription drug misuse.
On October 5th, DEA initiated this year’s Red Ribbon campaign with a virtual Red Ribbon Rally. Mentor USA’s Youth Advisory Committee President Jeremy Dawidowicz participated and performed a poem he had written for the cause. Watch Jeremy’s poem below. If you missed the Red Ribbon Rally you can watch the full event here.
Join Mentor USA, and millions of other people and organizations, for Red Ribbon Week by taking the National Red Ribbon Campaign Pledge and be a part of the creation of a drug-free America.
The Students’ Pledge
✓ I pledge to stay in school and learn the things that I need to know.
✓ I pledge to make the world a better place for kids like me to grow.
✓ I pledge to keep my dreams alive and be all that I can be.
✓ I pledge to help others and to keep myself drug-free.
ABOUT DEA
The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets. dea.gov
For more ideas and information on Red Ribbon, visit www.dea.gov/redribbon.
