Red Ribbon Week - USA

Red Ribbon - A Powerful Symbol

Since 1986, the Red Ribbon Celebration has touched the lives of more people each year. It all began with the brutal murder of a Drug Enforcement Agent, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena assigned to a case in Mexico. Enrique was shockingly close to covering the identities of key members of a Mexican drug cartel. He was kidnapped, brutally tortured and killed just days before he was to identify kingpins of the illegal drug business in Mexico.

Angered by Kiki's  death and the destruction caused by drugs and alcohol in America, the young people of Kiki's hometown of Calexico, California began wearing Red Ribbons in honor of the fallen hero. National Family Partnership and its affiliated organizations soon began to wear Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to first the illegal use of drugs. Today, the simple piece of Red Ribbon is the symbol for drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention across America.

Annually, October 21-31, millions of young people and adults celebrate a healthy, drug-free life by wearing or displaying a Red Ribbon Celebration. Since 1988, National Family Partnership has provided national leadership for this exciting event. This nationwide celebration has become a major force of raising awareness and mobilizing communities to combat alcohol and drug use among youth.