Next week the red ribbons on the banisters will come down, but the message of prevention Red Ribbon Week brings will remain throughout the year.

The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among students and educate them about its risks, Valerie Kamhi, head of Rockwood’s Safe Celebrations Committee, said.

“The most important thing is having a consistent message,” Kamhi said. “When you don’t say no, you say yes.”

Kamhi said the Rockwood schools do things consistently to remind students of the importance of making good choices, and though some students may think the organized events do not affect them, Kamhi said she believed certain things will stick in their memory.

“A lot of kids are going to remember people being zipped into body bags from the Prom Crash Re-Enactment,” Kamhi said.

As much as students may think they are invincible, Kamhi said, things that students may not think to a be a big deal, such as marijuana usage, can lead to more serious problems.

Kamhi said when it comes to prevention, knowledge is power, and events like Red Ribbon Week attempt to educate students so they know the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.

“The goal is enlightening kids, even if it only changes one or two kids,” Kamhi said. “If we can prevent another kid from using drugs or dying, that’s a huge step in the right direction.”