Red ribbon week
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, which coordinates Red Ribbon activities nationally, estimates that over 80 million Americans participate in Red Ribbon events.
The first Red Ribbon Celebration was organized in 1986 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. The campaign has reached millions of children and has been recognized by the U.S. Congress.
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.
Nancy Reagan came up with the idea of Red Ribbon Week and put it into action[citation needed].