RED RIBBON WEEK KICKS OFF

GRANTS - Grants/Bluewater Head Start children shouted "Drug free!"
and released red balloons during Red Ribbon Week opening ceremonies
at the Grants/Bluewater Head Start on Monday.

More than 120 tots heard an encouraging a talk in the morning on
saying "No!" to drugs from Grants Police Sgt. John Castaneda as they
greeted "Gage" of the Kasey Says program in front of the Mountain
Road facility.

"Kasey says, 'We don't do drugs,' " Castaneda announced. "This week,
we are celebrating Red Ribbon ... and Gage will be wearing his ribbon."

Gage, who is now a year old, is a golden retriever from Sandoval
County who joined Grants PD last year. The dog is one of 10 to 12 in
New Mexico's "Kasey Says" program and works in the schools with Sgt. Castaneda.

The National Family Partnership started Red Ribbon Week in 1988 to
honor Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who grew up poor and held dreams of
making a difference by battling drugs. Camarena worked his way
through college, served in the Marines, became a police officer and
finally joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. On Feb. 7,
1985, while lunching with his wife, five men appeared at the agent's
side and shoved him into a car. He was found a month later, tortured
to death. Officials believed Camarena's death was related to a major
investigation on which he worked. To honor Camarena's memory, friends
and neighbors began wearing red badges.

Other festivities honoring Camarena and Red Ribbon Week at Head Start include:

Tuesday, Oct. 17: Parade at 8:30 a.m. going down Washington Street
and then Mountain Road to Head Start. Classes will be held at 8 a.m.
to noon for all students. No afternoon classes. Features Buster the
Bus and Smoky Bear.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: door decoration contest.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Car Show displaying local police and emergency vehicles.

Friday, Oct. 20: Red Day, where the kids will wear Red Ribbon Week t-shirts.

A few points about drugs from the DEA include:

Legally prescribed drugs and over-the-counter drugs are not safe to abuse.

Even though prescription drugs are legal, selling and using drugs
legitimately obtained for someone else are illegal acts.

Do not take medication prescribed for someone else and carefully
follow instructions for over-the-counter medications.

People cannot predict the effects of a drug ... everyone's brain and
body chemistry and drug tolerances differ.

Using drugs can lead to addiction, impairment and death.

Marijuana is not medicine.

Addiction and dependency can be addressed through long drug and
alcohol treatment processes. It is better not to start, not to
experiment, not to tempt fate.

Do not buy drugs from Internet sources that claim drugs offered
on-line are safe.