Red Ribbon Week has been an integral part of this school for years, aimed to increase drug prevention awareness. The history of this important week in October started with a group of determined parents to play a leadership role in drug prevention, thus creating the National Family Partnership (NFP), a grassroots (the most basic level of an activity or organization), non-profit organization. Since its founded 35+ years ago, the NFP has been contributing a great deal to being a leader in the drug prevention community. The NFP continues to be a national leader in drug prevention education & advocacy.

     The Red Ribbon Week campaign was started in response to Agent Enrique Camarena – a Mexican American DEA agent, who was tortured and murdered while on a undercover mission in Mexico. In response to this, friends and family decided to wear a red ribbon to honor Camarena’s life and dedication to battling illegal drugs. And since then the red ribbon has been the international symbol of drug prevention.

     From the beginning of Red Ribbon Week, the campaign stands by a pledge:

     As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.

1. We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
2. We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
3. We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
4. We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.

     We hope the efforts of Red Ribbon Week and the NFP don’t go unnoticed. They’re fighting for a genuine cause and have every right to be as concerned as they are. Stay safe on Halloween, Sea Kings.