Red Ribbon Week is October 23-31. The Porter County Red Ribbon Campaign will be holding its Kick-Off on Monday, October 22 at the Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Avenue. Kick-Off will begin at 10 a.m.
During Red Ribbon Week children in the Porter County elementary schools will sign a pledge to lead a drug free life. The pledge states, “I pledge to lead a drug-free life. I will say no to drugs and encourage my friends to say no to drugs.” Parents too can become involved with their elementary-age children by discussing the dangers of drug use, setting rules about not using drugs, setting a good example by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription, and monitoring children’s behavior. Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t.
In conjunction with the Red Ribbon Campaign some county restaurants will feature placemats drawn by Porter County children. Students from a Porter County Elementary School have been invited to participate in the activities and release a balloon with a drug free message attached. Last year a balloon from the Porter County Red Ribbon Campaign traveled 296 miles to a family that lives 46 miles east of Cincinnati. That family’s name is Porter.
Red Ribbon is the nation’s oldest prevention program. It reaches millions of Americans every year. Started in 1985, in response to a Drug Enforcement Agent’s death, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in the U.S.