Red Ribbon Week promotes substance abuse prevention

Fairfield middle and high school students are observing Red Ribbon Week, a campaign to help prevent substance abuse, through Saturday.

Fairfield Middle School has several activities planned, with themes and handouts scheduled for each day.

The week kicked off Monday with Hat Day and an assembly featuring members of the Iowa Army National Guard. Each student was given a red ribbon.

Today, the theme was Twin Day; students were doubling up to fight drugs. Each student received a bracelet, and they tied red ribbons on trees in front of the school.

Wednesday is Wear Red Day. Students will dress in red to show their support of Red Ribbon Week, and each will be given a pencil.

Thursday is Sweats Day. Students can wear sweats to show it?s no sweat to stay off drugs. School staff reminded parents and students Thursday is picture re-take day, so they should plan ahead. Bookmarks are to be handed out to each student.

The week will wind up Friday with the theme Favorite Team Day; students will be teaming up to fight drugs and can wear apparel touting their favorite teams. A piece of candy will be handed out to each student.

At Fairfield High School, health teacher Heidi Grunwald said red ribbons will be handed out to each student as a reminder to be drug free.

Grunwald?s health class will be starting a unit on alcohol, drugs and tobacco, with a discussion about the meaning of Red Ribbon Week.

Grunwald explained Red Ribbon Week got its start after Enrique ?Kiki? Camarena, a 37-year-old United States Drug Enforcement Administration agent, was kidnapped, tortured and assassinated by drug dealers in Guadalajara, Mexico, in February 1985. Camarena had been investigating a multi-billion dollar scam in which he suspected involvement of officers in the Mexican army, police and government. His body was found one month later in a shallow grave.

Believing one person can make a difference, Grunwald continued, members of the Camarena family, including his three young sons, wore red ribbons during his funeral. The gesture made such an impact Congress proclaimed the first Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988, and since then, millions of Americans have gotten involved with the campaign efforts.

For the complete article, see the Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.