Red Ribbon Week was started in response to the death of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, murdered in 1985 while investigating drug traffickers. After Agent Carmarena’s death, his high school friend Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter created “Camarena Clubs” and started the tradition of wearing a red ribbon to show their opposition to drugs. Three years after that murder, in 1988, the Nation-
The National Family Partnership was formerly called the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth. This organization had begun in 1980 by concerned parents who wanted to play a leadership role in drug prevention. The NFPDFY devote their efforts to the well-being of youth and are a leader in drug prevention education and advocacy. Their mission is to lead and support our nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth. http://nfp.org/about-nfp/
National Red Ribbon Week has become the nation’s oldest and largest drug-prevention awareness campaign. During this week, millions of people celebrate and share awareness about living without misusing drugs. Red Ribbon Week can also be a time to honor and pay homage to those who have sacrificed, suffered, or died because of drug misuse.
This year there are some fun ways that you, your family, and friends can celebrate Red Ribbon Week virtually and show your support, in the week of October 23 – 31. Looking for a fun activity that you can do from home? Join the Red Ribbon Dance Challenge! To join in on the fun visit: www.getsmartabout-drugs.gov/videos/watch-red-ribbon-week-music-video. Post a video of your-self, your friends, and/or family dancing to the drug-free song on this link and post your video on your social media with the hashtag: #Dance4RedRibbon. Or you can join the #DrugFreeLooks-LikeMe Social Media Challenge. Have someone take a picture of you holding up the Red Ribbon theme sign and post it to your social media with hashtags #DrugFreeLooksLikeMe and #RedRibbonWeek. You could win an Amazon gift card! To get the theme sign and find out more virtual activities that you can participate in for Red Ribbon Week visit: www.redribbon.org/virtual-activities.
The Questa community celebrates with our nation every year during Red Ribbon Week. Average people can celebrate in many different ways: wear the color red to work or to school, decorate your office, classroom doors, or your vehicle with Red Ribbon-themed decorations. As well, you can make Red Ribbon-themed posters and ask to put them up in local storefronts or business-es. All of these are great ways to show your support to living a healthy life with-out misusing substances and honoring and paying homage to those who have suffered or died because of drugs. You can go to our site to find out more about Red Ribbon Week and activities by visiting www.vidadelnorte.com/red-ribbon-week-2021.
