Red ribbons say ‘no’ to drugs

MAT-SU — Red Ribbon Week, an event encouraging kids to enjoy a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle, continues this week and culminates Halloween for the Mat-Su Borough School District.

Red Ribbon Week is an offshoot of former First Lady Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign of the 1980s. Unlike its predecessor, Red Ribbon Week promotes hip slogans, such as, “Look at me, I’m drug free.”

According The National Family Partnership, the mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug-free America. Red Ribbon was started nationally when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs.

Nugen’s Ranch, a long-term drug and alcohol treatment facility in Wasilla, began recognizing Red Ribbon Week in the Mat-Su Valley in 1988 by encouraging kids to enter the Great Pumpkin Contest.

“Back then, the kids in the Valley would draw up anti-drug and alcohol posters and then a local artist would pick the winner,” said Karen Nugen-Logan, director of Nugen’s Ranch. “The grand [prize] winners from each class would get to display their poster around town and they’d go home with a great big pumpkin.”

Ribbons were issued as part of the school’s involvement with the contest in conjunction with Halloween and the growing problem of drugs nationally. Nugen said as interest in the drug problem in the Valley fizzled out by the 1990s, Red Ribbon Week continued its tradition of bringing awareness to the local schools.

Nugen contacted the Mat-Su Borough School District and found out how many ribbons it needed, purchasing more than $1,600 worth of ribbons for the schools, police department and public libraries.

“Wearing a red ribbon means our youth are against drugs and alcohol,” Nugen said.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation also donated money, staff and time to promote Red Ribbon Week through grants in advertisement. MSHF provides financial support for organizations offering services and practical solutions to significant health-related problems impacting the citizens of the Mat-Su Borough.

Today, elementary schools in the Mat-Su Valley will issue each child a red ribbon sticker to wear, while middle and high school students will be given actual ribbons.