HOW IT BEGAN: Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. In honor of Kiki’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents then began to form coalitions using Camarena as their model while embracing his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the Red Ribbon. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.This is OPA’s first year participating in Red Ribbon Week. We are excited to use this nationally known week to bring a local focus on drug prevention.

• October 12, at a regularly scheduled Skamania County Commissioner’s meeting, we anticipate the adoption of a Red Ribbon Week Proclamation.
• Banners and posters will be displayed in the community.
• Kick Off the week with our Drug Take Back Event, hosted by Skamania County Sheriff’s Office on October 23rd.
• At the elementary level, Karen Douglass will be presenting lessons in all 3rd – 5th grade classrooms. These lessons have a BE KIND — STICK TOGETHER AGAINST BULLYING theme. This social/emotional lesson is important as mental health and substance use has a close connection.
• At the middle school level, BreAnne Cameron, Drug Free Community Grant Coordinator, hopes to distribute drug-free information.
• At the high school level, Riley Hershberger, Student Assistant Professional at WRMS and SHS, will facilitate our prevention club, Stand Up 4 Teens, to determine how they wish to encourage substance use prevention in their school.
• On Wednesday, October 27, there will be a virtual Family Fun Night beginning at 6:30 p.m.The Zoom Family Scavenger Hunt will be fun, offer prizes, and share information about prevention.
• Local Restaurants will have an opportunity to display FREE trifold table tents at each table in their establishment sharing information from our prevention campaigns.
• OPA’s Facebook Account will have daily postings during the week, and we are paying for advertisement in local newspapers.
• Trunk Or Treat will be our final event in October and will close out our Red Ribbon Week. On Halloween, One Prevention Alliance will pass out candy at the trick or treat event held in Stevenson.