ATLANTA — Georgia will kick off its annual statewide Red Ribbon campaign at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Centennial Olympic Park. Last year, the event drew more than 500 students from across the state. The campaign signals the start of red ribbon activities in schools throughout the state Oct. 23-30.
“The Red Ribbon campaign highlights the devastation drugs can bring to our communities and creates a platform for schools, parents, students and community leaders to talk about the importance of living a drug-free life,” said Travis Fretwell, deputy executive director of Addictive Diseases. “We must start these conversations early and find opportunities to make this message an integral part of our daily communication — in our families, in our schools and in our businesses.”
This year, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will hold a Public Service Announcement contest that will be open to all students, clubs and organizations. Participants will be asked to create a 30 second broadcast PSA that focuses on the Red Ribbon awareness campaign. All entries should be uploaded to Facebook and the winner will be determined by peer participation Friday, Oct. 22. The deadline to submit all entries is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.
National Red Ribbon Week began as an effort to honor Federal Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty. Camarena was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 1985 while working undercover investigating drug traffickers. In honor of his memory, friends and neighbors began to wear red satin badges. In 1988, the National Family Partnership organized the first Red Ribbon campaign.
Georgia has participated since the program’s inception and Gov. Sonny Perdue is the honorary chair. Red Ribbon week activities around the state have grown steadily each year.
For more information about the PSA contest or Red Ribbon activities, go to http://dbhdd.georgia.gov.
“The Red Ribbon campaign highlights the devastation drugs can bring to our communities and creates a platform for schools, parents, students and community leaders to talk about the importance of living a drug-free life,” said Travis Fretwell, deputy executive director of Addictive Diseases. “We must start these conversations early and find opportunities to make this message an integral part of our daily communication — in our families, in our schools and in our businesses.”
This year, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will hold a Public Service Announcement contest that will be open to all students, clubs and organizations. Participants will be asked to create a 30 second broadcast PSA that focuses on the Red Ribbon awareness campaign. All entries should be uploaded to Facebook and the winner will be determined by peer participation Friday, Oct. 22. The deadline to submit all entries is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.
National Red Ribbon Week began as an effort to honor Federal Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty. Camarena was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 1985 while working undercover investigating drug traffickers. In honor of his memory, friends and neighbors began to wear red satin badges. In 1988, the National Family Partnership organized the first Red Ribbon campaign.
Georgia has participated since the program’s inception and Gov. Sonny Perdue is the honorary chair. Red Ribbon week activities around the state have grown steadily each year.
For more information about the PSA contest or Red Ribbon activities, go to http://dbhdd.georgia.gov.