WHY A RED RIBBON?

In 1985, Enrique Camareno was kidnapped, murdered and found in a shallow
grave. He was 37 years old. As a member of the Drug Enforcement
Administration he was investigating a major drug cartel believed to include
officers in the Mexican army as well as police and government officials.

In an effort to take a stand against his tragic death, and to unite in the
battle against illegal drugs, Camareno's friends and neighbors began
wearing red ribbons. Embracing Camareno's belief that one person can make a
difference, the first Red Ribbon Week event took place in October 1986.

Since 1986, late October is dressed with red ribbons. Ribbons are tied to
trees in school courtyards, pinned on the chests of elementary school
children, and banners wave above schools pronouncing their efforts to
promote a school that is Drug Free!

During this week, schools declare to the community that they are educating
our youth against substance abuse and drug-related violence.

The newspaper's goal this year during Red Ribbon Week has been to raise
awareness in the community. The eight-day "Fighting Back" series that
concludes today is about the people and the lives lost or ruined right here
in South Mississippi.

The stories were not easy to write. They involve our neighbors and our
children.

An additional goal of The Sun Herald was to provide an educational
component to the series for our readers and for our school audience.

Tuesday's Young Voices Section published student responses to this "Write
On" question: "What is the solution to the youth drug problem?" This is
what one seventh-grader said:

"To get them to stay away, give them a hobby. Teach them about the ways
that drugs can affect you. Tell them how doing anything is better than
smoking, drinking or doing drugs. Get them joined in a group or church
activities. Praise them about not doing drugs. The best way for them not to
do drugs is to know their family cares for them. I have learned that one
reason kids do drugs is because they have family problems, such as a
divorce or sudden loss. They do it to feel important, so make kids feel
important."

- - Jessie Ladner, North Woolmarket

Fighting back

The Sun Herald printed and distributed an additional 21,000 newspapers each
school day during Red Ribbon Week, providing newspapers to schools that
ordered the "Fighting Back" series for their students. The Newspapers in
Education Program serves 182 schools in six counties, with enrollments in
middle, junior and high school of over 40,000 students.

We suggested that newspapers be distributed each morning so students could
carry the paper to each class and teachers could incorporate the newspaper
articles and activities within their subject area. Schools were encouraged
to notify parents of the schools' Red Ribbon Week program. We wanted the
students to own the paper, take it home, and open a dialogue with their
teachers and parents, discussing the challenges they face when exposed to
drugs.

Our commitment to South Mississippi's children and to a drug-free community
are shared by some outstanding corporate sponsors. We are grateful to each
one. Without them, we could not have distributed this message to so many of
our children.

A question for principals, counselors, and teachers: Beyond red ribbons and
banners, how are you bringing drug awareness to life for your students? Did
you invite speakers into your classrooms? Did students write essays, make
posters, write letters to the editor? How did you incorporate the "Fighting
Back" series?

Please, let us know. We will share your best practices with our readers and
will incorporate as many as possible into future programs.

The Sun Herald will continue to be your partner in Red Ribbon Week.
Knowledge, education and a tenacious spirit will be the ingredients to
build on our unified effort.

Together, we can open our children's eyes to the dangers of the drug
culture that so keenly has its sights on our children.

Together, we must fight back against the growing problems of substance
abuse and drug violence in South Mississippi, because we all know what is
at stake - our children, families and friends.