2012 Red Ribbon Celebration

Red Ribbon Week is observed annually the "last full week of October." In 2012, Red Ribbon Week will be observed Saturday, October 20 to Sunday, October 28.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week began after DEA Agent Enrique Camarena was kidnapped and murdered while working undercover in Guadalajara, Mexico on February 7, 1985. The events that followed Agent Camarena's abduction exposed the violence and corruption associated with drug trafficking and citizens throughout the United States could no longer turn away. In Agent Camarena's home town of Calexico, CA, community members joined together to demand an increase in prevention and early intervention efforts, wearing Red Ribbons in Agent Camarena's honor. By 1988, Red Ribbon Week became a national campaign. Today, it is the most celebrated alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign!

Irvine Community Drug Prevention (ICDP) has coordinated Red Ribbon Week in Irvine since 1987. Our school and community based campaign engages students, teachers, parents and other adults in activities that raise awareness regarding alcohol, tobacco, other drug and violence prevention.

If you would like to host a Red Ribbon Community Activity in Irvine, please let us know. Call 949-559-8710

ICDP Provides Training and Support to School Site Prevention Coordinators

Every school in Irvine has a "School Site Prevention Coordinator" - a parent, teacher, counselor or student volunteer responsible for coordinating and hosting Red Ribbn Week at his/her site. ICDP provides training, technical assistance and support to these coordinators.

In 1999, Debra Bianchi and Dr. Nancy Colocino co-wrote the Red Ribbon Training Manual for School Site Prevention Coordinators. That same year, the County of Orange Health Care Agency ADEPT purchased copies of the training manual for every school in Orange County. In addition, ICDP launched the Red Ribbon Coalition website as another training tool for our volunteers. The website allowed us to expand our training, technical assistance and support services to School Site Prevention Coordinators across the United States and beyond. Anyone with a computer may utilize this web based service free of charge. Each year, more than 3,000 coordinators register to use this free service.

Red Ribbon Activities

Irvine Celebrates Red Ribbon Week

Over the years, Irvine Community Drug Prevention, the City of Irvine Community Services Department, the Irvine Police Department, Irvine Unified School District and the partners of the Irvine Prevention Coalition have developed both school and community based Red Ribbon activities. This year's Red Ribbon Week community activities include:

  • Saturday, October 20: Make a Difference Day (a National Day of Service)
  • Sunday, October 21: Faith Communities Celebration Day
  • Wednesday, October 24: Red Ribbon Week Community Forum
  • Thursday, October 25: Red Ribbon Week Pizza Night
  • Friday, October 26: Pennies for Prevention Drop Off at City Hall
  • TBD: Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs Prevention TAKE BACK Event