At the Huntington Beach City Council meeting on October 18, members of the Southeast County Young Marines came to pledge support for National Red Ribbon Week which runs Oct. 23 to 31. The Red Ribbon Campaign was established by Congress in 1988 to encourage a drug-free lifestyle and involvement in drug prevention and reduction efforts. Communities across America have been plagued by the numerous problems associated with illicit drug use and those that traffic in them, and overdoses within our youth is at an all-time high.
There is hope in winning the war on drugs, and that hope lies in education and drug demand reduction, coupled with the hard work and determination of organizations such as the Southeast County Young Marines and the Young Marines of the Marine Corps League to foster a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Governments and community leaders know that citizen support is one of the most effective tools in the effort to reduce the use of illicit drugs in our communities.
The red ribbon was chosen as a symbol commemorating the work of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was murdered in the line of duty, and represents the belief that one person can make a difference. National Red Ribbon Week encourages Americans to wear a red ribbon to show their support for a drug-free environment.