SPECIAL WEEK REMINDS ADULTS OF RESPONSIBILITY

In 2004 we still are seeing drug use among our children. I feel this
is due to several reasons: a cut in funding for drug education
programs, parents not talking to their children about drugs, and the
ostrich approach - "If we don't talk about it, the kids won't know
about drugs and their effects."

Some other reasons include: lack of knowledge by parents about drugs
and their effects on the body, kids with poor self-esteem, and last
but not least, peer pressure.

October 23-30 is Red Ribbon Week, devoted to drug awareness. Red
Ribbon Week was inspired by the brutal murder of a 37-year-old Drug
Enforcement Agency agent named Enrique (KiKi) Camarena.

Special Agent Camarena yearned to make a difference at an early age.
He went to college and received a degree in criminal justice. He
served in the U.S. Marines and after leaving the Marines became a
police officer. To help fight the war on drugs, Camarena joined the
DEA. He was investigating a multibillion-dollar drug scam in which he
suspected officers of the Mexican army, police and government.

On Feb. 7, 1985, Camarena met his wife for lunch. As he was leaving
the restaurant, five men appeared at his side, shoved him into a
waiting car and sped away. One month later his body was found 70 miles
from Michoaean, Mexico. He had been beaten and tortured to death,
leaving his wife without a husband and his three boys without a father.

Responding to his murder and sick of the killing and destruction
caused by drugs in our society, people from Camarena's home town of
Calexico, Calif., started wearing red ribbons. This trend took hold
throughout the United States, and in 1988, Congress proclaimed the
last week in October National Red Ribbon Week.

Through the observance of Red Ribbon Week, we hope to draw attention
to the effect of drugs on our society. Many schools in our area have a
full week of activities planned for their students. Parents are
encouraged to participate in these activities with their children. We
hope that parents become more involved in their children's lives to
help give them a good sense of direction throughout their lives.

To help parents to become more aware of Red Ribbon Week, Amarillo City
Commission has issued a proclamation, and on Oct. 23, the Community
Coalition for Prevention, Intervention and Treatment, along with
Tornado Alley BMX Raceway, will sponsor free BMX racing. The races
will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. While the races are going on, the public
is invited to come into the building at the raceway and visit the
wellness fair.

For more information, please call 359-7209 or visit
www.tornadoallybmx.com

I feel that if parents become more involved in their children's lives,
there would be less drug use among our children. Encourage your
children to become more involved in activities such as sports, music
programs, church and other programs offered throughout the school and
community. This encouragement from parents and other adults involved
in the lives of young people should be an ongoing process every day of
a young person's life.

Red Ribbon Week is an event that helps remind us of our responsibility
as caring and involved adults to the youth of our community.

Terry Brax, an elementary school physical education teacher, has been
at Highland Park for 16 years and an educator for 25 years. He is the
"Just Say No" coordinator for HPISD.