RED RIBBON WEEK TACKLES DRUG USE

Viable Options in Community Endeavors (VOICE) recently celebrated Red
Ribbon Week with students across Navarro County. This year's Annual
Red Ribbon Week was Oct. 23-31.

Currently, VOICE has drug prevention programs in every school in the
county, but Red Ribbon Week provides even more focus on drug
prevention. During Red Ribbon Week, the staff at VOICE provided
additional presentations for kindergarten through 12th grade. The
students were taught the serious dangers of tobacco, alcohol and
other drugs. Innovative techniques were used in working with the
children, including games, videos, songs and group discussions.

Red Ribbon Week is about encouraging kids to being drug-free and
marking the progress that has been made, VOICE officials said. The
first Red Ribbon Celebration was organized in 1986 by a grassroots
organization of parents concerned with the destruction caused by
alcohol and drug abuse. The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the
movement that Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration who was kidnapped while investigation drug
traffickers. The campaign has reached millions of children and has
been recognized by U.S. Congress.

"Red Ribbon Week is a chance to be visible and vocal in our desire
for a drug-free community," said Lynda Sloan, executive director of
VOICE. "Research shows that illicit drug use among 12 to 17 year olds
has been on a downward decline for the last three years, that is
great news for the community."

The mission at VOICE is "to empower children and families to lead
healthy and productive lives through education, advocacy, and
community collaboration." In striving to accomplish the mission,
VOICE is committed to continue working with all students through-out
the year with various programs and looks forward to more positive outcomes.

For more information on the programs and services provided by VOICE
or to offer your support to VOICE Programs visit it Web site at
www.voiceinc.org or call (903) 872-0180.