October is Substance Use Prevention Month, a time to reflect on the importance of making healthy choices and preventing the damage drugs and alcohol can cause. As part of this month, Red Ribbon Week is observed from October 23rd through October 31st each year. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs in America. In 1988, National Family Partnership (NFP) sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
This month, we’re encouraging students to think about how alcohol and other substances don’t just harm your body, they dull your senses and get in the way of clear thinking and decision-making. Your five senses — sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste — help you stay safe and experience the world around you. Alcohol can blur those senses, slow your reaction time, and even affect your memory. Imagine your brain as a scrapbook... it stores all your favorite moments, funny stories, and big achievements. Alcohol can interfere with how those memories are made and remembered.
So, during Red Ribbon Week (and every week) make a choice to protect your brain, your body, and your future. Join students all over the country in celebrating the power of staying substance-free.
Monthly Fast Facts
- Red Ribbon Week promotes youth prevention. The campaign reaches millions of students each year and is a chance to start meaningful conversations about staying drug- and alcohol-free. (National Family Partnership)
- Alcohol can interfere with memory and brain function. Young brains are still developing, and alcohol use can negatively affect learning, attention, and memory. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Substances dull the senses that keep you safe. Alcohol use reduces coordination, slows reflexes, and impairs judgment — making it easier to get hurt or take risks. (CDC: About Underage Drinking)
