Red Ribbon Week reinforces message of prevention

Melissa Jung, Features Editor • October 27, 2011

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.”

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About the Contributor

Melissa Jung, Features Editor and Webmaster

Melissa is a senior and this is her third year on staff. At MHS, she is also involved in Marquette Theatre Company as the historian, and she is a member of the St. Louis Cappies and the International Thespian Society. She is also a part of Key Club, National Honor Society, and French Honor Society. Outside of MHS, she is especially involved in her youth group and is still a Girl Scout. She has an awesome job working with kids and her hobbies include reading, writing, taking pictures, listening to music, and going to concerts -- she fangirls all the time. Melissa loves so much food, especially barbecue. She doesn't watch much TV, but when she does, it's marathons - either of Intervention, Boy Meets World, or Say Yes to the Dress. She has grown to love so much about newspaper, but the best thing is probably the friendships she has made through it. Melissa is still deciding what her future plans will be, but she wants to help people. She's cool she swears.