As part of their participation in Red Ribbon Week, members of Students Against Destructive Decisions at Ruidoso Middle School formed the ribbon symbol on the sports field Thursday.Tricia Jameson, the middle school health education teacher and SADD sponsor, said the students participated in activities all week that supported their commitment to being drug and alcohol free. Some of those activities across the country include taking the pledge to be drug free, entering the Red Ribbon photo contest and a theme competition.
The National Family Partnership, then called the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, established a grassroots nonprofit organization in 1980. The group was comprised of a handful of concerned and determined parents convinced they needed to play a leadership role in drug prevention, information provided stated.
First lady Nancy Reagan was chairman.
Today the NFP is a national leader in drug prevention education and advocacy with the mission of supporting the nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth with the help of nearly 100 partners.
The Red Ribbon Campaign, initiated in 1985 in response to the torture and murder of Drug Enforcement agent Enrique Camarena, has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. People began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.
The organization has become a national clearinghouse of prevention literature and its members work as advocates to bring concerns and agendas of America’s parents and families to policy makers on a local, state and national level.
News Reference: Ruidoso News