Red Ribbon Week is a good time to talk about drugs

by Mark Dykes

The Red Ribbon Week campaign began after the kidnapping, torture and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985. After the murder was discovered, those in Camarena’s hometown put on red ribbons in his honor and the ribbon became the symbol for prevention to reduce demand for illegal drugs. However, it wasn’t until 1988 that the first Red Ribbon Week was coordinated.

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated Oct. 23-31, and this year’s theme is “Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free.”

This week, and any time, talk to your kids about the dangers of drug abuse and set clear rules about not using drugs. Studies have shown that children who have parents who talk about the dangers of drugs are less likely to use them. While there is a large focus on harder drugs, it’s also important to talk to youth about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco.

Parents can also be more active in drug use prevention by becoming familiar with the slang terms for illicit drugs, and monitoring the music, television, movies and other media their kids are exposed to.

According to information from National Family Partnership, children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, but only a fourth of teens report having these conversations.

For kids between ages 12-17, 10.6 percent have admitted to being current illicit drugs users, with high school seniors the most likely age to have used such drugs within the past 30 days. About 10 percent of high school seniors have reported using amphetamines at least once over the course of a year.

The effects of drugs go way beyond those felt immediately, as people can develop health problems from extended use. Early substance abuse increases likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders, and teens who use have a 25 percent chance of developing alcohol dependency as an adult.

Those who used tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other substances were likely to have diagnoses of major depressive disorder or substance use disorders.

Though “street drugs” are the bigger emphasis for Red Ribbon Week, it’s also important to keep in mind many youth abuse prescription medicines as well. Do your part to limit access to such medicines by keeping them in locked areas where children have no access. Most often, prescription medicines are accessed through unsecured bathroom cabinets.

Abuse of prescription drugs accounts for 45 percent of deaths due to overdose; in comparison all combined street drugs account of 39 percent of overdose fatalities.