Red Ribbon Week Promotes Drug-Free Lifestyle

by Thomas Schultze

Thirty seven years have passed since the death of Enrique Camarena, a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in 1985. The first Red Ribbon week was held in 1988 to honor her death and is celebrated across the nation to create a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. It is held at 4C’s yearly from Oct. 23-31. The first Red Ribbon days at 4Cs for this year were hosted by Student Wellness and the Collegiate Recovery Program on Oct. 25-26.

The Collegiate Recovery program is a student group that supports recovery from drug addiction and mental health issues. The club offers information about how to maintain mental health and gives students a safe and encouraging. It meets every first and third Wednesday of each month in Maureen M. Wilkens Hall Room 105 from 2:15-3:15 p.m.

The goal for Red Ribbon week this year, as Cheryl Kramer, the Student Wellness case manager, said, was to have students write what they did to avoid using drugs on red sticky notes and placed them on a ribbon-shaped board that now hangs in the cafeteria. This acts as a pledge for students to not use drugs and instead discover healthier habits. It is done to raise awareness of drug use and the struggles it creates for individuals and their families.

Red Ribbon Week (Thomas Schultze)

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