The Van Buren Youth Leadership Council took a stand against
drugs, alcohol and tobacco once again in honor of Red Ribbon Week. Students
from Van Buren High School came up with a variety of activities to bring
awareness to the dangers of these substance from Oct 23-31st.
The National Family Partnership
organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. NFP provides drug awareness
by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Celebration. Since its beginning
in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the
world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents
and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a
symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction
cause by drugs in America.
Youth Leadership Council members
kicked off their week with the elementary students by providing them with red
ribbons, hosting a wear red day and visiting each classroom to talk about the
dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco and ask students to sign a pledge to be
free of these substances. They saw a lot of red that day! They also promoted
the event at the Van Buren High School by hosting a wear red day, having a
trivia contest and hanging informational posters all over the school!
The week ended with a display in the
high school hallway titled Hall of Horrors. This Hallway was decorated spooky
with a Halloween theme. Each day students put up posters that showed the number
of people killed in all of the most famous wars as well as from the most famous
serial killers. At the end of the week they put up posters showing the number
of people killed from tobacco, alcohol, drunk driving and texting and driving.
This display is to show how many MORE people die from drugs, alcohol and tobacco than
from major wars in our history.
YLC members know that it is not only
important to bring awareness to these issues during red ribbon week but at all
times and in all places. They encourage parents to have conversations with
their teens about substance use. Did you know….?? Children of parents who talk
to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than
those who don't, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
Take a minute today to reinforce the messages your children have heard over the
last week and encourage them to never try these dangerous substances.
For more information on Youth Leadership Council
or Red Ribbon Week you may contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412 or via
email at info@vbsafecoalition.com
No comments:
Post a Comment