The men and women in blue of Richmond Police are upholding another symbolic color to remind fifth-graders across the city of the dangers of drugs as they promote Red Ribbon Week, today through Oct. 31.
The annual drug awareness and prevention campaign was created in 1986 by parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The goal is to educate young people about the dangers of illegal use of such substances. The red ribbon became the symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a U.S. DEA agent who was killed investigating drug traffickers. The theme of this year’s campaign: “I Am Drug-Free.”
“We still want our children to say no to drugs,” Community, Youth and Intervention Captain Sybil El-Amin said. “We’re taking this message to our fifth-graders as they prepare to leave elementary school and, hopefully, they will take these reminders with them when they move on to middle school and beyond.”
Visits to all Richmond elementary schools are planned throughout the week.
The annual drug awareness and prevention campaign was created in 1986 by parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The goal is to educate young people about the dangers of illegal use of such substances. The red ribbon became the symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a U.S. DEA agent who was killed investigating drug traffickers. The theme of this year’s campaign: “I Am Drug-Free.”
“We still want our children to say no to drugs,” Community, Youth and Intervention Captain Sybil El-Amin said. “We’re taking this message to our fifth-graders as they prepare to leave elementary school and, hopefully, they will take these reminders with them when they move on to middle school and beyond.”
Visits to all Richmond elementary schools are planned throughout the week.
