Red Ribbon Week promotes drug, alcohol free lifestyle among students

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Story Published: Oct 22, 2009 at 5:28 PM PDT

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

COQUILLE, Ore. - Promoting a drug and alcohol free lifestyle among teens and young adult, starting this Friday, all Coos County schools will be taking part in a national drug prevention event.

Students will be taking part in "Red Ribbon Week" beginning this Friday, October 23rd.

Locally sponsored by the Coos County Commission on Children and Families, the week is recognized by schools across the nation.

"Red Ribbon Week began in 1985 recognizing a man called Kiki Camerena, he was a drug enforcement officer that was killed in the line of duty. It's to remind kids that drugs and alcohol is not the way to go," says Commission Director Judy McMakin.

During the week, students are provided with drug prevention materials including wrist bands, mini footballs and pamphlets in their schools.

Some will also have guest speakers and other related activities.

According to McMakin, this week is especially important here in Coos County.

"In Coos County over 40 percent of our 11th graders say that they've used alcohol. At least 20 to 25 percent say they've used some sort of drug from marijuana all the way to the hard stuff, so we have some work to do."

This year there will be a teen drug and alcohol free dance hosted by the Coos Bay Elks Lodge beginning at 7:30 pm this Saturday.

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