Middle School Students Empowered to Stay Drug-Free: Red Ribbon Week

The power of we is stronger than drugs can ever be” is an anti-drug message coined by Alex Platt, an eighth grade student at Parkway South Middle.  Platt is one of the 14 eighth grade students selected to represent the school’s Red Ribbon Leaders (RRL).

Red Ribbon Week is a national celebration to bring school and community together to show the commitment to living a drug-free life. Red Ribbon Week began in 1985, with the backing of former First Lady Nancy Reagan, when Kiki Camarena, a drug enforcement agent, was murdered in the line of duty in Mexico City. After his death, people began to display and wear red ribbons to demonstrate a commitment to living a drug-free lifestyle and to honor Officer Camarena.  This year, Red Ribbon Week was recognized from October 23 through October 31 nationally.

In addition to placing a red ribbon on each student locker and distributing ribbons to wear in support and recognition of being drug-free, South Middle RRLs decorated the school’s front fence and pavilion windows with anti-drug messages. They also decorated the trees in front of the school with red ribbons and balloons. Celebrating within the building the week of October 21, various spirit themes spread the anti-drug message:

Monday: Red Ribbon Week Kick Off!!  WEAR RED to celebrate!!

Tuesday: “Drugs make you crazy” and “Tobacco makes you wacko.” WEAR CRAZY CLOTHES/MIXED MATCHED COLORS.

Wednesday: “Don’t get TIED up with DRUGS.” WEAR A TIE OR SCARF.

Thursday: “BLACK OUT DRUGS DAY.” WEAR A BLACK SHIRT

Friday: “Team Up Against Drugs Day!”  WEAR A TEAM JERSEY OR SPORTS SHIRT

In addition, a thought or drug fact for the day was read by RRLs each morning to remind students and staff to stay drug-free. Students were also encouraged to answer the drug question-of-the-day during lunch. One winner per grade level was announced each morning.

Each year, physical and health education teacher (and South Middle's teacher of the year for the 2011-12 school year) Teresa Politte selects between 10 and 15 eighth grade students to be Red Ribbon Leaders.  Together, they plan and execute the week's activities to educate and celebrate being drug-free. This year the students selected are: Jada Aleem, Jennifer Harter, Dylan Haessig, Micayah Hellmann, Shannon Keller, Adam Krueger, Dawson Moss, Zak O’Keefe, Ariyaunna Parker, Bethany Paul, Lauren Paul, Alex Platt, Eimy Rosales and Hannah Senay.

Politte selects students who either show an interest or a passion for staying drug-free and who possess leadership qualities. "Their passion and leadership qualities come across during health class," Politte explained. This year, a few students were selected because of personal stories in their own families. Adam Krueger was one of those students. 

“I have a person in my extended family who is a recovering heroin addict,” Krueger explains. “As a teenager he was in and out of county jail directly related to his drug use. Now 21, he recently finished a one-year prison sentence.  He stole from my mom, his mom and his grandparents to pay for the drugs. Few family members will have anything to do with him. It has been a very real way for me to learn about why it is so important to stay off drugs—any drug. We are watching him struggle finding (or keeping) a job and finding a place to live. I can learn from his experience and pass this message on to my friends and other students so they don’t make the same choice.”  

While this young relative has remained drug-free for several months following his release from prison, most addicts cannot shake their addiction.  South Middle secretary Rita Chabot-Schultz shared a story about her nephew, who became addicted to heroin in his late twenties.  “My brother and sister-in-law’s lives were turned upside-down.  They did everything possible to help him, including mortgaging their home to pay for one rehab facility that cost $30,000 per month.” 

Eventually, relatives kicked him out of their house after this young man’s dad found him shooting up in their home.  Five days later came the news that every parent dreads: Their 31 year-old son had been found dead in a motel room from a heroin over-dose.

Schultz says, “Then another nightmare began for him and his wife. . . . did they do the right thing, did they do enough, how could this happen to their son, where did they go wrong  . . . all the guilt and questions consumed them.  Their lives were forever changed . . . emptiness, sadness, and guilt became part of their everyday existence.”

The Greater St. Louis area is experiencing heroin use in epidemic proportions. "This is a topic saturating the media, but it is a conversation we need to keep having. Burying our heads and pretending it isn't happening in west St. Louis County is not doing anything to stop the drug use,” Politte explains.

“We need to make this personal connection that it does happen to good families and it is not an issue that happens to ‘other’ people,” Politte adds. In addition, Politte is alarmed by the prescription drug abuse epidemic.  “Every 19 minutes, a person dies from a prescription drug overdose.”

The selected RRL's are equally passionate about the topic. Student Zac O’Keefe has known people who used illegal drugs. “I’ve seen the downfall of their lives. I appreciate learning about it and being a part of a group like Red Ribbon, which educates us.”

A few eighth grade students approached Politte to volunteer with Red Ribbon Week, even though they were not officially chosen as leaders.  Grace Larson, one of those students, asked to be involved because she feels passionately against smoking.

“I want to get the message out about the dangers of smoking. I know people who have died from smoking. I know eighth and ninth students who smoke and I want to be a part of educating them,” she says.

Ben Stanza is another volunteer for Red Ribbon Week. “I want to do something for my school and my community. I want to show pride for my school,” he shared.

Ariyaunna Parker sums up the goal of Red Ribbon Week, “This is my public way to say that I will stand up for my school and I will not do drugs.”