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By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

PELHAM –Pelham City Schools officially kicked off its 10th annual Red Ribbon week on Monday, Oct. 23.

“During Red Ribbon Week, students participate in spirit dress up days, a door decorating contest with their Panther Period class to come up with creative designs advocating against drugs and alcohol,” said Pelham Park Middle School Counselor Nicole Howell.

Red Ribbon Week is a national drug use prevention campaign that has been running since 1988, and was inspired by the Red Ribbon movement that occurred in response to the brutal murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985.

Camarena had been assigned to work in Mexico by the DEA, and was allegedly on the trail of a million dollar drug trafficking operation. One day, after leaving his office to have lunch with his wife, Camarena was abducted by five men and forced into a car. A month later, Agent Camarena’s body was discovered and it was confirmed that he had been tortured to death.

The public outcry in response to this brutality resulted in the Red Ribbon movement, to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.

Today, the students of Pelham carry on that torch by raising awareness on the dangers of drug use through Red Ribbon Week.

“I think education is the real component to the success of Red Ribbon Week,” Howell said. “That is where Compact is such a vital and essential part of the week. The added element of the relationship our students have built with Officer Shniper and the rest of the Compact team, makes the messages they share something our students listen to and value. Having our faculty and staff participate and be visible is just as important since we want our students to know that they have adults in their lives that are in their corner and striving for them to continue to make healthy choices.”

Students at Pelham Park also engage in a number of activities throughout Red Ribbon Week, such as special dress up theme days and participating in different drug education activities throughout the week to make them excited about making healthy lifestyle choices.

“My favorite theme day is ‘Everyday is a Celebration without Drugs– Wear Holiday Themed,’” Howell said. “I love dressing up and I love celebrating and I cannot wait to go all out as a holiday.”