Red Ribbon Week kick off!
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - It's Red Ribbon Week, the nation's largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign.
The Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition and the City of Yuma kicked off Red Ribbon Week Monday morning with a ceremony.
Inviting local family and friends to take a stand against drugs and join them in their mission to help keep kids drug-free.
“Kids see things and they’re also very impressionable and if we can get that message of how dangerous drugs are, when we look at it, one pill can kill. Tragedy happens and there’s nothing you can do and that affects a family, that affects a community, that affects a school and if we can stop that tragedy from occurring, then we’re better off,” said Yuma Police Chief Thomas Garrity.
The Red Ribbon Week campaign brings together parents, schools, and businesses as we look for ways to keep kids and communities drug-free.
“Take the time around the dinner table, turn off the TV. For 15, 20 minutes, have the conversation with your children, because you might not think there’s an issue, but it will be too late when there is an issue,” said the Mayor of Yuma, Doug Nicholls.
The Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition said Red Ribbon Week encourages our entire community to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
And the Fourth Avenue Junior High School student council said they're on board.
“It’s important to teach them because if they ever got into a situation with drugs or anything, they don’t know what to do and they think it’s okay for them to smoke or do anything that’s bad with drugs,” said Raul Castillo, Fourth Avenue Jr. High student council president.
From October 23rd through 31st, schools across Yuma County will be spreading awareness to help keep kids drug-free.
“So, this week we are planning on going Tuesday and Friday to Roosevelt and Carver to spread awareness about the dangers of drugs and we do have some activities and games planned for them too,” said Fourth Avenue Jr. High student council advisor, Arturo Barrios.
For more information on the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, go to https://yumacountyantidrugcoalition.org/.
