National Red Ribbon Week 2019, sponsored by National Family Partnership (NFP), is a week devoted to drug prevention advocacy and awareness that happens annually from October 23-31. 

For 20 years, TSS has been involved with Red Ribbon Week in multiple communities. Sometimes we work with wellness coalitions, businesses, and media. Often, we run the programs ourselves. I am proud of the TSS teams that spend countless hours gathering materials, getting ribbons ready, making presentations and helping our youth understand the importance of being drug free.

I think Kiki Camarena, the murdered Drug Enforcement Administration agent in whose honor the Red Ribbon campaign was started in 1985, would be impressed with what we are accomplishing in sending a message about TSS's commitment to drug prevention. "Send A Message. Stay Drug Free" happens to be the theme of the 2019 campaign. And that's what it's really about, sending a message for safety, hope and the courage to stay sober.

In this time of changing marijuana laws, many kids are receiving a message that legal is equal to safe. As adults, we understand the perils of inhaling smoke and of ingesting edible products when you don't really know what is in them. We also know the dangers associated with alcohol and other substances that may be legal, but certainly, aren't safe. Kids, on the other hand, don't always read labels, they don't necessarily watch news reports and they are curious, making them an extremely vulnerable population. They tend to think if family members are using it, "It must be ok, right?" Just consider the vaping crisis. It shows us just how susceptible kids can be to slick marketing campaigns and the appearance of something being okay to use.

Red Ribbon Week is our opportunity as a community to encourage kids to remain drug free; to promote safety in a positive way. We don't need scare tactics and we don't need harsh language. We need clear, direct and honest discussion about keeping them safe. And that's where Red Ribbon Week opens the door for communication.

Kiki Camarena was kidnapped, tortured and killed by drug traffickers while he was working undercover to stop the flow of marijuana and cocaine into the US. A friend and fellow agent created the Camarena Clubs to encourage young people to stay away from drug use. Sending positive messages about choosing healthy lifestyles, the clubs soon gained national attention and Red Ribbon Week was born.