Red Ribbon Week takes place during the last week of October and is an opportunity for school communities to raise awareness about substance abuse and bullying prevention. 

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration website, “Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. During Red Ribbon Week, youth and adults around the nation pledge to increase their knowledge by learning more about the destructive effects of drug abuse, including prescription drug misuse, and renew their commitment to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.”

Principal Therese Hawkins said that she is really proud of Naz’s anti-bullying task force and the role they play in raising awareness of bullying prevention in our school during Red Ribbon Week and throughout the year. Additionally, Hawkins hopes the important messages shared during this week stay with students so that they will think twice about their choices and future consequences. 

Hawkins acknowledges that in addition to the student advocates, the faculty and staff play an important role in the efforts of raising awareness of anti-bullying and substance abuse prevention. Database Manager Abbriella Marincus said she thinks students’ substance abuse can stem from being bullied. “It’s so important to not only address drinking and alcohol abuse, but also to know we have to be aware of bullying and mental health.”

Student Assistance Program Director, Cathy Kokontis said, “I’m a trained substance abuse counselor. I’ve seen the damage that it causes, hurt it causes families and the impact on mental health.” Because of her experience, Kokontis works hard to make teens aware of the harms that result from substance abuse before it’s too late.

With poor mental health being a pervasive problem among teens, these are important issues to be brought to light. Red Ribbon Week helps to bring the conversation to the forefront and raise awareness so that students can openly discuss the challenges they face and find healthy solutions that will set them up for a happy and healthy future.