Students at Richmond Hill Middle School celebrated their pledge to stay drug free last week through Red Ribbon Week.

RHMS celebrated its drug-free pledge with a week of events focused around the theme, “The Best Me is Drug Free.” Red Ribbon Week is simultaneously observed by schools nationwide and is part of the curriculum in the health and physical education classes at RHMS.

During the week, students dressed each day in distinct outfits that represented a facet of drug-free living.

Tuesday, they focused on keeping their friends off drugs by using positive peer pressure by wearing the same outfits as their friends.

On Thursday, they dressed the part of their future career because their future is bright without drugs. Also, on Thursday guest speakers from the local community spoke in health and physical education classes on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The week culminated with a door-decorating contest in which Jennifer Pinti’s class had the most unique door design with a personal drug-free slogan.

A tug-of-war contest rounded out Friday’s event, where homeroom was pitted against homeroom and teachers battled students.

After the murder of undercover federal Drug Enforcement Agency agent Kiki Camarea in Mexico City in 1985, the Red Ribbon Campaign was created to call attention to the wide-spread dangers of the illegal drug industry and used as a symbol of intolerance towards the use and abuse of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug-free America.