It’s National Red Ribbon Week, a drug-use prevention campaign that started Oct. 23 and continues through Oct. 31 and is observed by schools and organizations across the country, including Lake County Schools. This year’s national theme is “Drug Free Looks Like Me.”
Mount Dora High School kicked off the week with a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Trivia Relay Race today, while students at Beverly Shores Elementary “teamed up” against drugs and wore their favorite team jerseys.
Other activities this week include themed dress-up days such as “Sock It to Drugs Day” when students wear crazy socks, “I Dream of a Drug-Free World Day” when students wear pajamas, and “Get In A Good Book, No Time for Drugs Day” when students dress like a favorite storybook character. Throughout the week, students are receiving tangible reminders of the drug-free message, such as pencils, bookmarks and bracelets. Schools are decorating their doors, creating posters and inviting guest speakers as well.
Tavares High School, for example, had Lake County Schools Mental Health Specialist Cherie Burgess speak to students on Monday; Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Director Bobby Rowe will address them on Tuesday, and Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Brown and Clermont Police Chief Charles “Chuck” Broadway will talk to students on Friday.
Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation. National organizers say it’s an opportunity for families to talk about drug prevention. They shared statistics that show that children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
