RED RIBBON WEEK, which is celebrated annually October 23-31, is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.
Red Ribbon Week was started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was brutally tortured and murdered by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. As a tribute to SA Camarena, high school friend, Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter, created “Camarena Clubs” and the wearing of a red ribbon to show their oppositions to drugs.
In 1988, the National Family Partnership coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary Chairpersons. Since then, the Red Ribbon campaign has taken on national significance. Wearing red ribbons during the month of October continues to represent our pledge to live drug free and honors the sacrifice of all who have lost their lives in the fight against drugs.
Celebrate Red Ribbon Week in your community or your child’s school, and raise awareness of living a drug free life. Take the opportunity to talk to your kids about drugs.
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can earn a patch.
The DEA Red Ribbon Patch Program is designed to provide Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts the opportunity to earn a patch from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by engaging in anti-drug activities in celebration of Red Ribbon Week. The purpose of the Patch Program is to empower young people to engage in a drug-free activity and strengthen their anti-drug beliefs.
DEA will award a Red Ribbon Patch and Certificate of Participation to the first 15,000 qualifying Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts!
Who can participate in the program?
All Boy and Girl Scouts are eligible to participate.
What are the patch requirements?
- Each Scouting unit or troop must coordinate a Red Ribbon Week activity in the community or school.
- Each Scout must attend a drug prevention education session.
- Each Scout must take the DEA Drug Free Pledge.
- The Scout leader must complete and submit the online “Activity Report” upon completion of program requirements.
- Information on submitting the “Activity Report” will be posted in July 2016.
Red Ribbon Week.
For more information about the Red Ribbon Patch Program, please visit Just Think Twice.
Watch the video about Red Ribbon Week.
Check out the DEA Red Ribbon Toolkit with fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, promotion ideas, a sample Red Ribbon press release, Red Ribbon Graphics, and Red Ribbon video, all available to download.
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