Every year, schools all around the country observe Red Ribbon Week to spread awareness and encourage students to stay drug free. The nationwide campaign serves as a reminder for young people to make positive, healthy choices and to understand the long-term impact of substance use.

Healthcare professionals on campus and teachers alike both agree that the week serves as an important reminder for students to stay drug free.

“It represents spreading awareness to all the kids on the dangers on all the different types of drugs and even ones that they may not know what’s in there and that it can still be deadly, so just spreading awareness on all the different types of drugs and the different things it can cause,” nurse Andrea Huff said.

Similarly, law enforcement teacher Richard Ferguson believes that Red Ribbon Week opens the door for meaningful conversations about drug prevention. He explained that creating space for those conversations can make a serious difference in how students handle peer pressure.

“I think it creates a conversation about drugs and gives kids an opportunity to be able to talk about it and maybe relieve some of the peer pressures that they may have from other people about doing drugs,” Law enforcement teacher Richard Ferguson said.

As the week comes to an end, its message remains clear: awareness, education, and open conversations are essential steps toward a drug-free lifestyle. By coming together to promote awareness and support one another, students and teachers can help create a community where living drug free is the norm.