What is Red Ribbon Week? Duration, purpose, and everything you need to know

The nation is all set to welcome the Red Ribbon Week, which will start from Monday, October 23, 2023, up until Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Being the country’s oldest and biggest drug prevention program to raise awareness about the same, Red Ribbon Week was started in 1985, after Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was killed by drug traffickers.

At the time, he was positioned in Mexico, where he was investigating several cases. In 1985, the Special Agent’s killing sparked massive outrage amongst the masses, and this made Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s friend Henry Lozano, along with Congressman Duncan Hunter started a club called, the “Camarena Club.”

This club encouraged people to wear a red ribbon to show their aggression and opposition to the consumption and trafficking of drugs. Since then, many people have associated themselves with Red Ribbon Week, which is hosted by the National Family Partnership.

Apart from this, Red Ribbon Week also honors those who have lost their lives or their loved ones to drugs. The program is celebrated by schools and even organizations, from rallies to award shows, and many people participate in unique ways to spread awareness about drugs and trafficking of the hazardous substances.

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More details revealed about Enrique “Kiki” Camarena as Red Ribbon Week commences on October 23, 2023

With the main mission of the program being a “drug-free America,” the program was started after the death of the DEA agent, Enrique, who was born in 1947 in Mexico. He started working for the U.S. Marine Corps, then he became a police officer, and ultimately an Imperial County Deputy Sheriff.

He started his journey with the Drug Enforcement Administration and was placed as an agent in Mexico. However, one day during his investigation, he was attacked and brutally tortured by five alarmed men, who kidnapped him and ultimately killed him. The DEA’s official site mentions:

“It is believed that Special Agent Camarena's death actually occurred two days later, but his body was not discovered until March 5, 1985. He was 37 years old and was survived by his wife Mika and their three children—Enrique, Daniel, and Erik. During his 11 years with DEA, Kiki received two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Achievement Award and, posthumously, the Administrator’s Award of Honor, the highest award granted by DEA.”

The DEA’s website also talks about how Congressman Duncan Hunter and his high school friend, Henry Lozano started the program which spread awareness about drugs and their ill effects. The program then became the Red Ribbon Week, which is now hosted all over the country.

The DEA’s website also talks about how Red Ribbon Week became insanely popular in California and other parts of the country, as many people got attached to the program that helped people navigate their lives and live drug-free. Henry and Duncan’s program was finally adopted by the National Family Partnership, which is being led by Mrs. Reagan.

As per DEA, more than 80 million people take part in Red Ribbon Week every year, from October 23, 2023, to October 31, 2023, to show their support for the program.