San Diego Prevention Coalition

The national Red Ribbon Campaign was created in 1986 to encourage people, young and old, to lead drug-​free lives. Red Ribbon Week began in San Diego County when the friends and family of Enrique «Kiki» Camarena memorialized his brutal death in Tijuana where he was an undercover Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officer in 1985, by wearing a red ribbon. This attention to the drug issues of the day gained national attention, and Red Ribbon Week was born, usually the last week of October.
It is ironic that now, as California is soon to vote on the merits of legalizing marijuana with Proposition 19, Red Ribbon Week just concluded in the San Diego Unified School District. Most of the schools have just completed participation in the annual national drug awareness program. In my opinion, teaching anti-​tobacco and drug awareness is something that we all should do every day. Therefore I award the Red Ribbon Week and it’s organizer-​San Diego Prevention Coalition-​the vaunted 5 Unilocal STAR REVIEW.
It is always good to have an open and honest dialogue with your child about the dangers of tobacco and other drug use. Now as I attempt to navigate my son’s teen years, I realize just how valuable a good rapport is and how vital that parents remain actively involved in their children’s lives. Red Ribbon encourages knowing just who your children’s friends are, closely monitoring unsupervised time (after-​school and on weekends), and keeping your children involved in constructive extracurricular activities. Sports programs are an especially valuable aid here. These positive factors foster resiliency and assist in maintaining a safe and drug free environment.
Many older kids think Red Ribbon Week is bogus and uncool. The program seems to have more emphasis with the younger kids in elementary and middle schools. Red Ribbon Week will usually mean assemblies at these schools that touch on drug prevention and education to steer kids clear of experimenting with illegal substances. Red Ribbons are handed out for the kids to wear on their clothing as a sign that they resolve to be drug-​free.
It is sad that it took the death of a DEA agent in Mexico to start the Red Ribbon Campaign up but the legacy of Kiki Camarena is such that entire generations of school children know of his story and pledge to remain drug-​free as a result.