What does the month of October mean to you? Football games and cool weather? Falling leaves and apple cider? Corn mazes and pumpkin patches? Maybe, like many others, you were only counting down the days until October 31st. If Halloween is your favorite holiday, then maybe you spent weeks planning out your costume. 

As we look back at October, it’s important to note that October 31st was not just about Halloween, but marked the end of the annual week-long drug prevention campaign known as “Red Ribbon Week.”

So, what is Red Ribbon Week? 

Red Ribbon Week began in 1980 as a grassroots, nonprofit organization by the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth. Though the mission has stayed the same over the years, the name has since changed to the National Family Partnership, also known as the NFP. The NFP now serves as a national leader in drug prevention, education, and advocacy. Since 1980, they have sought to foster the health and well-being of our country’s youth. 

To honor the tragic loss of Enrique Camerera, a former Drug Enforcement Administration Agent, parents and youth across the country began sporting the red ribbon to symbolize their commitment to raising awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. Since 1985, the red ribbon has grown into a full-scale movement that represents both advocacy and awareness. The first official National Red Ribbon celebration was then sponsored by the NFP in 1988! 

The National Red Ribbon Campaign has now reached about 600 schools across the entire nation. The Red Ribbon Week lasts from October 23rd to October 31st, and is now the largest and longest-running drug prevention program in the nation. With thousands of students and their families reached, this mission continues to promote hope and happiness in children part of school systems all across the country.

You probably noticed the red ribbons posted up in the main entrances at school when you came in each morning. For a high school so accustomed to plastering blue and gold across every surface, why was Warren suddenly painted red? The answer is: Red Ribbon Week.

When you put on one of those red silicone bracelets during Red Ribbon Week, just remember that you are making a pledge to be drug free, not only for your own benefit, but for the good of all children throughout the nation. 

For more information about Red Ribbon Week, check out this link: https://www.redribbon.org/