Red Ribbon Week and Beyond...
Everyone Can Participate
Red Ribbon Week is an opportune time for families, communities, and educators to unite in their efforts to prevent underage drug and alcohol use. The greatest influence on young people’s decisions about drinking is the world they live in—including their families, friends, schools, the larger community, and society as a whole. The messages of Red Ribbon Week can be even more effective if supported all year long. The following ideas are just a few of the many that can be adapted for the week's events or for year around promotion of healthy choices.
Businesses
Red Ribbon Week
- Paint store-front windows with red ribbons
- Purchase red ribbons and distribute to employees, customers, schools, etc.
- Display red ribbons, banners and posters on the interior and exterior of your building
- Place a red ribbon message in your advertisements and monthly statements
- Sponsor a Red Ribbon Campaign activity, such as a fun run, walk-a-thon, or alcohol and drug free picnic
- Promote the Red Ribbon Campaign in company newsletters, on grocery bags, marquees, or "For Sale" signs
- Advertise Red Ribbon discounts or sales for customers wearing a red ribbon
And Beyond...
- Offer ongoing education for employees on parenting and substance abuse issues
- Donate in-kind services to drug prevention organizations and community coalitions in need of specialized service
- Participate regularly in community coalition activities-designate an interested employee to serve on the coalition
- Allow employees one paid hour per week to serve as a mentor
- Sponsor substance free company events
- Have a clearly written and enforced drug-free workplace policy
Families
Red Ribbon Week
- Purchase or make red ribbons for family members and friends
- Display a red ribbon on your front door, mailbox, trees, and car to show your commitment to reducing the demand for drugs
And Beyond...
- Seek out credible educational resources and become informed about all drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.
- Talk with children about drugs on a regular basis
- Communicate a clear, no-use message to youth
- Plan drug-free family activities
- Practice ways to say NO to drugs
- Set a good example
- Do not involve children in alcohol or tobacco use by asking them to bring or serve these products to adults
- Use "teachable moments" to educate children about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
- Take time to really listen to children
- Have regular meals together as a family
Neighborhoods
Red Ribbon Week
- Plant red tulips along parkways and in community areas (with permission and appropriate permits)
- Contact local neighborhood associations with help in distributing red ribbons
- Host a neighborhood cook out
- Provide neighborhood children with red chalk for decorating sidewalks
And Beyond...
- Host monthly or quarterly neighborhood gatherings so neighbors get to know one another
- Sponsor neighborhood parades and activities for children. Demonstrate fun without alcohol
Religious Organizations
Red Ribbon Week
- Distribute red ribbons at services during Faith Weekend
- Announce the various Red Ribbon Campaign community activities in newsletters and bulletins
- Hold prayer vigils for individuals and families experiencing problems with substance abuse
- Invite youth to distribute red ribbons during Red Ribbon Faith Weekend
And Beyond...
- Pastors - learn as much as you can about alcohol and other drugs and their affects on the family and community
- Organize a mentoring initiative - mentor youth from the greater community
- Sponsor educational in-service programs for priests, ministers, rabbis, secretaries, volunteers, and the congregation on alcohol and other drugs
- Provide information about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and parenting in your bulletin or newsletter
- Offer your building as a place for parent education classes
- Become involved with community anti-drug coalitions
- Assist fellowship groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Alanon, and Alateen
- Address alcohol, other drug, and related problems in sermons - this could open the door for those dealing with these problems to seek assistance
- Be knowledgeable about counseling, intervention, and treatment resources in the community - refer people as needed
Schools/Universities
Red Ribbon Week
- Assign a research project on the history of Red Ribbon week
- Designate a Red Ribbon coordinator and committee of students and staff
- Plan essay contests, poster contests, and journalism competitions
- Purchase red ribbons and distribute to students and staff
- Decorate the school in red
- "Plant the Promise." Plant red tulip bulbs at your school or other civic site as a symbol for a Drug-Free America.
- Feature drug information in school publications
And Beyond...
- Incorporate alcohol and other drug education into staff in-services
- Integrate alcohol, tobacco, other drug education, and resistance skills into regular curriculum
- Know the treatment and counseling resources in your community and how to refer families to them
- Begin Student Assistance and Building Assistance teams to help deal with issues that affect student and staff performance
- Have clear and fairly and consistently enforced drug-free (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs) policies for students, staff, and others using the facilities. Include all property owned by the school (e.g., parking lots, stadiums, etc.) Involve students in writing and/or updating the policies
- Incorporate drug education into student and/or parent orientation sessions
- Have clearly written and enforced no-use policies
- If the school provides student housing, make some of the housing alcohol and tobacco free
- Feature alcohol, tobacco, and drug information in school publications
- Do not allow tobacco or alcohol companies to sponsor or underwrite student events
- Have students do reports or presentations on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and related issues (e.g., violence, costs to society, etc.)
Service Clubs
Red Ribbon Week
- Get involved with Red Ribbon committees in your community
- Adopt a school and donate red ribbons to the students and staff
- Underwrite costs of Red Ribbon supplies for low income children
And Beyond...
- Work with local organizations to provide parenting sessions during regular meetings
- Invite a local prevention or treatment professional to speak to your group about drug issues
- Encourage members to be involved in mentoring
- Actively participate in local anti-drug coalitions
- Support drug prevention activities in the community with volunteer time or financial donations
- Be an advocate for and support substance abuse prevention, treatment, and aftercare services
Government Agencies
Red Ribbon Week
- Get involved in the Red Ribbon committee in your community
- Include Red Ribbon message or ribbons in employee paychecks
- Hold a Red Ribbon celebration for employees and their families
- Give different departments red ribbons and see how creative they can be in decorating their area
- Participate in the daily Red Ribbon theme days
And Beyond...
- Support and become actively involved in community anti-drug coalitions
- Learn about the financial and social impact that alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and related issue have on a community - share this information with others in the community
- Be aware of zoning laws and the placement of alcohol and tobacco outlets, and advertising
- Assess community ordinances to see if they inadvertently contribute to increased use of alcohol and other drugs
- Be a positive role model to youth and adults in the community
- Have clearly written and enforced drug-free workplace policies
Youth Organizations
Red Ribbon Week
- Purchase and sell red ribbons to raise funds for your group
- Plan special activities for youth and families during the Red Ribbon Campaign-such as a health fair, fun run, drug education program
- Volunteer to help plan community Red Ribbon events
- Distribute red ribbons to all houses in your neighborhood
And Beyond...
- Volunteer to help plan community anti-drug events
- Hold education programs for parents. Include information on alcohol and other drugs, and the role they play in helping kids stay drug-free
- Organize ongoing groups, among members, to promote alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-free lifestyles
- Begin regular drug education programs
- Create clear guidelines about parental behavior during youth events. Do not allow adults to bully youth or volunteers. Hold parents accountable to be appropriate role models
- Have youth research and present to each other information about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
- Have youth commit to a "no use contract", make sure they understand the consequences for breaking the contract and hold them accountable for their choice. Have the student's parents sign the contract also
- Purchase and sell red ribbons to raise funds for your group
Public Safety Agencies
Red Ribbon Week
- Purchase red ribbons and wear on uniforms
- Display red ribbons in a prominent place on all vehicles
- Help plan and participate in the Red Ribbon Campaign activities
- Offer to speak at community programs
- Help decorate light poles and buildings with red ribbons
- Initiate a drug education program for employees
And Beyond...
- Learn about the signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug use and how they impact your job and the safety of the public
- Know about safety precautions needed when dealing with a methamphetamine lab. Educate the public about the risks associated with methamphetamine production and what to do if they suspect a lab in their neighborhood
- Know about counseling and treatment resources in your community
- Participate regularly in community anti-drug coalitions
- Have a clearly written and enforced drug-free workplace policy
- Offer drug education and parenting programs for employees
- Set a good example for youth in the community
Health Care Professionals
Red Ribbon Week
- Purchase red ribbons for employees and patients
- Display red ribbons on the interior and exterior of buildings, clinics, and hospitals
- Initiate a drug education program for your staff and the community
- Distribute educational literature alerting others to the dangers of drug use
- Promote healthy, drug-free life styles
And Beyond...
- Learn about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and their effects on the body and brain
- Educate patients on how the use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs affects their health
- Learn as much as possible about addiction and its long-term effects
- Ask patients about all medications being taken. Their symptoms could be a sign of harmful drug interactions
- Be familiar with treatment and counseling resources in the community - refer patients as needed
- Have educational literature about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and related issues (e.g., violence, eating disorders, HIV/AIDS) in waiting areas and exam rooms
- Before prescribing medications, talk with patients about their drug use history. If they are in recovery, do not prescribe anything that has a potential for abuse or addiction (e.g., painkillers, sedatives)
- Recognize that health care professionals are at high risk for drug abuse in part due to their access to addictive medication. Provide ongoing education for staff on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and addiction
- Participate in or host drug education events for the community