Ector County ISD hosted a kickoff for Red Ribbon Week Monday in the parking lot of the administration building.
This year’s theme is “Life is a movie, film drug free.” School district, City of Odessa and nonprofit officials were part of the event, along with Permian High School’s Color Guard, Drumline and Panther Paws. Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31.
“We’re coming together as a community to reaffirm our shared commitment to health, safety and making positive choices,” Interim Superintendent Keeley Boyer said. “This week is more than just a week on the calendar. It’s a time to reflect on the importance of living drug free, not just for ourselves, but for the well-being of our families, schools and the broader community. Your presence today is a testament to the collective commitment we have to the future of our students and the strength of our community. Together, we can make a difference.”
In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, communities across the country began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.
ECISD Police Chief Jeff Daniels said the origins of Red Ribbon Week trace back to the life and work of Camarena.
“From an early age, Camarena aspired to make a meaningful difference in his community. After earning a college degree in criminal justice, he served honorably as a U.S. Marine, a police officer, before joining the DEA to fight against illegal drugs. In 1985, while working undercover in Mexico, Camarena was tragically kidnapped and murdered by drug traffickers at just 37 years old,” Daniels said.
“He left behind his wife Geneva and their three children. His untimely death sparked outrage and sorrow among citizens, particularly in his hometown of Calexico, California. In response to the devastating impact of his murder and the broader effects of drugs on our society, community members began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness about the dangers posed by drugs. This movement quickly gained traction across the country, leading to Congress officially declaring the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week in 1988. Since then, it has become a time for American children, parents and educators to come together to promote a drug-free America and honor the legacy of Enrique Camarena. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to foster a united, visible commitment towards creating a drug-free America. Through initiatives like this, we can work together to keep our children, families and communities safe and healthy together,” Daniels added.
Mellessa Brenem, prevention program director at the Permian Basin Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said the organization applauds the district for hosting the kickoff. She said they will see more than 27,000 young people this week in the Permian Basin.
“Those are one-on-one presentations with small groups of students to large classroom settings to activities to fun, through games. Red Ribbon Week really poses the opportunity to empower adults in our community. We have to teach and guide our young people on how to live healthy lives. … Every single person at the council is dedicated to the health and well-being of young people,” Brenem said.
Fentanyl is the drug they are currently focusing on. They also provide education on Naloxone, also known as NARCAN, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Fourth or fifth grade isn’t too young to talk to your children about drugs, she said. In this area, children are using alcohol, tobacco and vaping at 12 1/2. It’s about 13 1/2 for marijuana.
“It’s no longer about if you use drugs or alcohol, this is what’s going to happen to your body … The conversation is, if you take a pill that you don’t know where it came from, you’re probably going to die. That’s the conversation we’re having with kids these days, and it’s very tragic. Young people do get caught up in drug use. … We have to take it for what it is, and we have to empower every single one of you here today, every day, it’s not just a hit or miss. It’s a conversation that we get to have all year long, with anyone and everyone who wants to know about specific drugs” and what’s happening in the community, Brenem said.
In an interview after her remarks, Brenem said Red Ribbon Week does make an impact.
“What prevention really is, is planting a seed,” so if a child hears a presentation once, it can make a big difference in their lives, she said.
“But a lot of the time when kids come up and they want to tell us stories, or they want to say something, it’s already happening. The other part of these presentations is just ensuring that they’re heard and seen and valued; that there’s no such thing as a stupid question. … It really boils down to what they learn in school about Red Ribbon Week. They’re going to take it to their house, so we’re at least getting an ounce of prevention into their mind. … We’re hoping parents really have the conversation about what it is and what not to do,” Brenem said.
