At Marist High School, red ribbons are popping up everywhere. Red Ribbon Week kicked off on Monday, October 27, resuming the yearly tradition of spreading drug awareness and prevention.
“I’ve been in charge of the SADD club for three years and we’ve done it every year and I know that Marist did it before too,” says Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club moderator Claire Kelly.
Ribbon week is celebrated nationally. Marist SADD club members proposed the idea to give out red ribbons throughout the school.
“Some of the club members came up with the initial idea to disperse red ribbons and have people wear them, but many schools throughout the country do it,” says Kelly.
Club members worked together to raise drug awareness around Marist.
“We hang up posters, we do the bulletin board, and we pass out ribbons in everyone’s English classes,” says SADD club president Sarah Chigaros.
People who are curious do not have to go far to find more information.
“There’s a poster in each English classroom about Red Ribbon Week if someone wants to learn more about it,” says SADD club vice president Margaret Doyle.
There is a different message each year for ribbon week. This year’s motto is “say no to drugs,” says Kelly.
It is important for teenagers to be educated about this week.
“It encourages students to make good decisions when it comes to things like alcohol, drugs, vaping, and smoking. We just feel it’s important to bring awareness to things that high schoolers may face,” says Kelly.
They have one simple goal in mind.
“We hope students choose against drugs and alcohol,” says Chigaros.
This is a topic that many students may find uncomfortable to discuss.
“Ribbon week brings awareness to a topic that a lot of people don’t want to acknowledge, or don’t acknowledge at all,” says Doyle.
However, the club’s message is that it is worth the effort.
“Make good choices and encourage your friends to do the same thing, not giving into peer pressure, and stick to your gut,” says Kelly.
If not, there may be long-term consequences.
“We learn about the life you can live if you continue to go down a path like that,” says Doyle.
