The following is a message from the Drug Enforcement Agency on Red Ribbon Week:

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"Each year, from October 23-31, the Drug Enforcement Administration and countless organizations across the country observe Red Ribbon Week. The White House also proclaims October as National Substance Use Prevention Month, meaning that we are less than one month from the start of this important time.

We are reaching out today to ask you to share the Red Ribbon message. Red Ribbon creates opportunities for awareness and conversation about substance use and the risks that exist today.

Red Ribbon Week began with high school students in Calexico, California, following the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Guadalajara, Mexico. After Kiki’s death, people started wearing red ribbons to honor his sacrifice. Red Ribbon continues to be a program aimed at youth and young adults to encourage them to live a drug-free life. More information on Red Ribbon can be found at www.dea.gov/redribbon.
 

Through the Go Red for Red Ribbon Week initiative, we are reaching out to community, city, and state leaders to encourage the lighting in red of public landmarks (e.g., buildings, monuments, bridges) to raise public awareness and promote a drug-free lifestyle. Go Red for Red Ribbon is an opportunity to engage individuals, families, communities, schools, and organizations to come together to raise awareness, even virtually, on living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. Photos can be posted on social media platforms and tagged #DEARedRibbon and #GoRed4RedRibbon. Click here for this year’s flyer.

20 Ways to Promote Red Ribbon Week can spark ideas that will help you develop a program that works for the communities you serve. In the coming days we will share the 2024 Red Ribbon social media plan so that you can coordinate your communications to help get the message out."

I would like to thank you for all you are doing for the

program and the children and families in your area.