What is Red Ribbon Week?
If you aren't familiar with Red Ribbon Week, it commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.
Within weeks of his death in 1985, several friends of Camera's launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley, Calif. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. These coalitions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol of Camarena's memory.
The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of the Camarena coalitions. Today, it is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country and generally takes place the last week in October.
By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events teens and adults throughout the U.S are pledging to live a drug-free life and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Camarena.
