Students around the state will be taking time out over the next several days to observe and participate in Red Ribbon Week activities. Mark Woodward, spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), says it’s a time for Oklahomans to honor those who’ve died because of drugs and the violence associated with substance abuse.

Red Ribbon Week runs Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. Each year, the OBN provides free drug awareness programs for schools around the state as students observe Red Ribbon Week.

“Red Ribbon Week was started by the Family of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena who was murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers in Mexico City. They wanted to begin a tradition of honoring Camarena’s sacrifice, as well as use Red Ribbon Week as a means of focusing on drug dangers and violence associated with substance abuse,” Woodward said.

With escalating problems of teens abusing prescription and over-the-counter medications, OBN Director Darrell Weaver is challenging parents to use Red Ribbon Week to begin a dialog with kids on the dangers of substance abuse.

“We fight daily in Oklahoma for the future of our children. Red Ribbon Week is an important event in our State, providing our schools and parents a prime opportunity to talk to our young people on the dangers of illicit drug use. Also with prescription drug abuse on the rise, I encourage parents to be active and have candid conversations with their children to make their tomorrows safer. One child in Oklahoma lost to the horror of drug addiction is one too many,” Weaver said.

In addition to assemblies, Woodward says some districts are also planning to hold parades, flower-planting activities, drug-awareness classroom curriculum and other projects as part of the Red Ribbon Week observance.

“We stay very busy during Red Ribbon Week meeting the growing demand for drug-awareness programs. However, OBN has a group of instructors that provide programs throughout the year. So, we want to encourage schools and communities to give us a call if they’d like to schedule a free program,” Woodward said.

For more information contact Woodward at (405) 521-2885 or (800) 522-8031.