Students learning drug-free message

SIKESTON -- Red ribbons affixed to poles and other places around schools this week and next will pass along an important message to students -- to be drug free.

"Everything we do during Red Ribbon Weeks instills values on how to make good choices in life," said Kristen Rapert, a counselor at Morehouse Elementary. "Although we're celebrating being drug free, it carries into the curriculum and character education."

Red Ribbon Week began Saturday and runs through Oct. 30, which means schools can choose which week to observe it. Morehouse and Southeast Elementary and the Fifth and Sixth Grade Center are among those celebrating this week, while others will next week.

Red Ribbon Week began after the kidnapping, torture and brutal murder of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, in 1985. In the agent's California hometown, the public outpouring of support turned into an organized community response in which citizens wore red ribbons and became the voice for prevention to reduce demand for illegal drugs and illegal drug use in America.

In 1986, the California State PTA adopted the Red Ribbon Week campaign, with Pres. Ronald Reagan nationally recognizing it in 1988.

According to the Red Ribbon Coalition, today, the week brings together millions of people to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention and treatment services. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the U.S., said the coalition.

Here, schools make the week fun for students, incorporating the theme with special dress and activities.

For instance, on Tuesday, all the students at Morehouse Elementary received a tie-dyed T-shirt and assembled for a group photo with the theme "Peace out to drugs," said Rapert.

Other activities for the week included cutting out hand prints for a bulletin board that said "We Keep Our Hands Off Drugs" or signing drug-free pledges that were fastened to footballs and hung in the gym.

At the Fifth and Sixth Grade Center, students design and hang up banners and have dress up days, said Jennifer Reynolds, counselors' secretary. That includes wearing camouflage to "join the fight against drugs," and having crazy hair day on Wednesday, with the message "don't let drugs twist your brain."

Rapert said although most elementary student haven't yet been exposed to drug use or peer pressure surrounding it, Red Ribbon Week is still important to drive the message.

Reynolds agreed.

"We feel like if we get to them at an age before it begins, we can influence students in a better direction and maybe change the path they go down," she said.

Danny Adams, school resource officer for Sikeston elementary schools who also teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes for fifth grade, said he stresses the "just say no" message year-round, not just during Red Ribbon Week.

"I give them the facts and I try to help them make wise and good choices throughout their lives," said Adams.

Often times, the pressure to use drugs can begin as soon as fifth or sixth grade, Adams said.

"That's when they start hearing things like 'If you don't hang out with us, you're not part of the cool crowd,'" he said.

According to Reynolds, statistics show that by seventh and eighth grade, students begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Some of the biggest issues for teens and children today are prescription medications and alcohol, according to Adams.

For those who don't use drugs, Red Ribbon Week is a time to be proud that children are drug free.

"We try to put good role models in front of the children and make it a big celebration," said Reynolds.

And it can make a difference down the road. "I've had students who are freshman now and will come up to me and give me a hug and tell me thank you and what I taught them really helped them," said Rapert. "These are great kids and we want our students to grow up to be successful members of society."