JUST SAY NO

Students Build Strong Character In Fight Against Drugs

Schools nationwide kicked off Red Ribbon Week with fairs and
educational sessions in effort to promote safe and drug-free schools.

Although the message has stayed the same -- helping and teaching
students to just say "No" -- schools have changed the way the message
is presented.

Building character and having more student-focused events have
replaced larger productions for the drug-free prevention campaign,
according to Heriberto Villarreal, director of federal programs for
San Benito schools.

"Now we have speakers come in and talk to the kids and the curriculum
level has also gone well beyond just one week," Villarreal said.

"In the past we used to have a parade that went from the schools to
the football field and elaborate events like that."

Through Red Ribbon Week, school districts try to create good citizens
for communities.

"It teaches the students not only to give rather than receive, but,
through drug awareness, build a strong character," Rio Hondo
Elementary School Counselor Virginia Davila said.

"We try not to do the same every year."

"For instance (Monday), for the first time, we had the U.S. Customs
come in and talk to the kids and show them their plane and boat,"
Davila, Red Ribbon Week event coordinator, said.

Schools have also started involving parents to help spread the
message.

Weslaco schools send home suggested activities for families as part of
the campaign.

Some include a family breakfast, lunch or dinner, watch and discuss a
special movie and set aside time to play in the yard or park.

Drug prevention week began in 1985 after a group of concerned
community members rallied on behalf of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a Drug
Enforcement Administration special agent in California. Camarena was
brutally tortured and killed by drug traffickers.

Camarena's death was not the first of it's kind, but it was the start
of what is now a nation wide campaign, Red Ribbon Week. The red ribbon
is worn as a stop sign to violence and drug use and in honor of the
blood shed for others.