Red Ribbon Week is currently the largest substance abuse campaign in the U.S. Formed in 1988 by the National Family Partnership, the week, always in mid-October, still aims to promote the idea that “drug use is life abuse.” For the past few years, Peer Assistance Leadership has been hosting Red Ribbon Week at CdM with activities, guest speakers, and, of course, the classic red ribbon bracelets. Senior PAL member Gabby Sosa remarks on how “this year we had lots of ideas for Red Ribbon Week and did our best to fulfill them as drug abuse is such a prevalent topic in today’s society.”
Starting our week off strong, on Tuesday, October 22, Lynn Peterson from One on Campus held a drug and alcohol abuse panel with three knowledgeable panelists currently in recovery. The turnout was “larger than expected,” according to Sosa, with almost the entire lecture hall filled. After Peterson’s opening remarks, each panelist had approximately five minutes to share their story and explain why programs such as One on Campus can be so impactful. After each panelist had spoken, they fielded questions from the audience, such as “How can we best approach people in our lives with substance abuse issues about getting help?”
Available most days during the break, PAL also had a “pledge poster” up and available to be signed by students willing to pledge to be drug-free. By the end of the week, almost the entire poster was filled with names.
Later on in the week, a drunk goggles activity was held in the quad. Combined with the senior Olympics, six teams of two from six different elementary schools that feed into CdM, PAL, and ASB equipped each person with drunk goggles, which impair their vision, simulating a drunken effect. The teams then faced off during break by tossing water balloons at each other with the goggles on. This was meant to illustrate how substances influence those who abuse them and spread awareness about the effects. Through their competitive spirit and excitement, the Harbor View team came out triumphant. Senior Audrey Long, the Harbor View Vikings girl team member, was very proud of this victory. When asked about the experience, she said that “it was hard to aim since the goggles were making it hard to concentrate and was changing [her] vision a lot.” As a lot of wearers of these goggles have experienced shifted vision and impaired balance, making it harder to even walk in a straight line, Long expected this but was still surprised by how challenging it was.
Red Ribbon Week, observed annually around the United States, is a significant part of October for many, helping prevent and spread awareness of the effects of tobacco, alcohol, smoking, and other drug abuse. In the years that Peer Assistance Leadership has brought awareness to CdM and all of its students, more teens have been exposed to the dangers and results of substance abuse. In the coming years, this campaign will surely continue to evolve and help more people become educated and safe.
