Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County

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Celebrate National Red Ribbon Week

October 23 - 31, 1998

The Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Campaign is a national campaign which came about in 1985 following the abduction, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent, Enrique "KiKi" Camarena, by drug traffickers in Mexico.  Camarena left behind a wife and three young children.  His wife, not wanting Camarena to have died in vain and to be forgotten, asked that his death be commemorated in an annual drug awareness campaign which would stress the hipe for a drug-free America.  We have no current information regarding the the Camarena family as they have requested privacy. However, there have been several magazine articles, a television special, and a book which detail the Camarena story.
Each year, the last week in October is designated Red Ribbon/Drug Awareness Week.  Communities across the country distribute red ribbons, and decorate the towns in red, in order to symbolize their hope for a drug-free country.  Please join the millions this year during October 23-31, in wearing a red ribbon,and expressing the desire for a drug-free America.