If you are seeing a lot of red this week it is National Red Ribbon Week. The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-October 31. 

The National Family Partnership, which coordinates Red Ribbon activities nationally, estimates that over 80 million Americans participate in Red Ribbon events. It’s also a chance for DEA to show support for citizens throughout the United States who support law enforcement's efforts to
keep communities free from the ravages of drug trafficking and drug abuse.

National Red Ribbon Week began after the death of Kiki (an undercover name for DEA agent Enrique Camarena) who was murdered in Mexico City by drug traffickers. Kiki devoted his life to stopping drug related activities.

In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.

The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children. Our local children are also learning about the dangers of drugs and how to deal with the daily temptation to use them.

The Decatur County Sheriff's Department is visiting several elementary schools this week. They also visited at the Friendship House of Jesus. Deputy Moorhead has his partner, K-9 Max, with him.

As a community, everyone should know the damage that drugs do to individuals, families, employers and the community. We should also know that there are individuals that fight drugs everyday to keep us all safe from violence, crime and the ruining of our youth.