National Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of dangers of drug use

You Only Live Once - #YOLO – is the theme behind this year’s National Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31. The initiative was started by the National Family Partnership (NFP, formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth) in 1986 to give people and communities a visible way to take a stand against illegal drugs.

As the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the country, each year Red Ribbon Week reaches millions of young people and starts the conversation about the dangers of drugs. The NFP encourages schools to incorporate drug-free messages into their morning announcements, create theme days and send an email or post to social media to make sure parents can continue the message at home.

Here in Dallas ISD, several schools have embraced the campaign and started the conversation on their campus. Thelma Elizabeth Page Richardson Elementary incorporated “shade out drugs” sunglass day and “put a cap on drugs” hat day, while Richard Lagow Elementary students wore crazy socks and jerseys to “team up against drugs.”

For more ideas on how to start a conversation about drug prevention and a Red Ribbon Week planning kit for schools and parents, visit the National Family Partnership website.