Quick look: Red Ribbon Week returns Oct. 23-31 with a new theme encouraging healthy, drug-free choices. OCDE has updated its online toolkit to help schools plan activities for the annual campaign that continues to honor the legacy of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
The Orange County Department of Education has updated its online toolkit to support schools planning activities for Red Ribbon Week, which runs from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31.
Curated by OCDE staff, the digital kit features activity ideas, prevention programs, presentations, workshops and educational resources addressing emerging substance use trends, including fentanyl, vaping and other drugs. The resources — they can be accessed at www.OCDE.us/RedRibbonWeek — are designed to support youth-led prevention efforts during Red Ribbon Week and throughout the year.
First established nationally in 1988, Red Ribbon Week encourages students to pursue healthy, drug-free lives. A new theme is introduced each year, inspiring schools to organize youth forums, health lessons, spirit days, art projects and other activities that promote healthy choices.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council also supports local schools by providing red wristbands for students and staff. Students who wear their wristbands can receive special discounts at participating businesses throughout the county through partnerships coordinated by the council.
Honoring Kiki
If you’re a student, educator or otherwise connected to a neighborhood school, chances are you’re familiar with Red Ribbon Week. But you might not be aware of its origin — specifically the story of the man who inspired the campaign.
Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent working in Guadalajara, Mexico in the 1980s. On Feb. 7, 1985, Camarena, a former Marine on the trail of a multibillion-dollar drug trafficking operation, was abducted by five armed men who forced him into a car as he left his office to meet his wife for lunch.
It was later determined that Camarena was killed by his kidnappers. At 37, he was survived by his wife Mika and their three children.
Shocked and heartbroken, friends and neighbors mourned the violent slaying by wearing red satin badges, and “Camarena Clubs” popped up at schools in Kiki’s hometown of Calexico. Meanwhile, parents formed coalitions to stand against drug and alcohol abuse, and some of them adopted the red ribbon as a symbol of the DEA agent’s sacrifice and a pledge to pursue drug-free lives. The movement gained national attention when club members presented the “Camarena Club Proclamation” to first lady Nancy Reagan.
Communities in California, Illinois and Virginia started encouraging students to wear red ribbons in late October, and by 1988 the National Family Partnership had organized the first national Red Ribbon Week. The eight-day event was formally chaired by President Ronald Reagan and the first lady.
Making a difference
More than three decades later, millions annually display their red ribbons, which have come to symbolize commitments to living healthy, drug-free lives that reduce the demand for illegal drugs — and the violence that accompanies them.
This year’s theme, “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free,” encourages students to recognize that everyday choices can make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others. The superhero-inspired message emphasizes leadership and the power of young people to influence their peers through healthy, drug-free choices.
The Orange County Board of Education recently endorsed Red Ribbon Week with a resolution that affirmed the importance of schools and communities launching unified and visible drug prevention programs. Board members also encouraged the commitment of time and resources to ensure the success of Red Ribbon Week and other year-round prevention strategies.
And here’s a final footnote to the story of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. According to the Red Ribbon Week website, Camarena’s mother initially tried to dissuade him from joining the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. But Kiki believed he had found his calling.
“I’m only one person,” he said, “but I want to make a difference.”
Other resources
- National Red Ribbon Week Campaign website
- Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council website
- Here’s what parents need to know about fentanyl
- Life is Greater Than Drugs campaign by the Orange County Health Care Agency
- Orange County Health Care Agency’s Behavioral Health Services
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
A version of this story originally ran in 2020. For more information on local Red Ribbon Week activities, contact OCDE Coordinator Elke Petras at 714-966-4458 or epetras@ocde.us.