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As drug use becomes more and more prevalent with today's youth, it is imperative that students are taught the importance of remaining drug free as well as making good choices. It is in this vein that Mid-Prairie Schools focused on during Red Ribbon Week.
With studies showing that factors which affect drug use with teens make an impact on their choosing whether or not to use drugs, and with said studies showing that pre-teens and teens are less likely to use drugs if they consider the activity to be less socially acceptable by their peers or society, the importance of activities which underline not doing drugs is apparent. Thus Red Ribbon week comes into play with its weeklong messages stressing the message "Don't do drugs."
According to studies reported by Partnership for a Drug-Free America, "between the years of 1998 and 1999, the percentage of teens that associated marijuana use with a perceived risk of losing their friends due to drug use, increased from 47% to 50%." This statistic alone illustrates the importance of educating youth as to the use of drugs and their unwelcome part of society. The mere fact that drug use is being perceived as "less cool" means programs such as M-P's Red Ribbon week are making an impact on students.
Mid-Prairie schools implemented Red Ribbon week to underline the importance of staying drug free by focusing in a positive way on the good character traits of not doing drugs with each day underlining another anti-drug message.
Monday emphasized the slogan "Show Good Character By Being Drug Free" with students receiving red ribbons with the slogan imprinted upon it. With the launch of the week, students were encouraged to wear the ribbons throughout the rest of the week as they continued activities.
Tuesday was designated as "Be Sharp, Don't Do Drugs" day. With this slogan, students learned more about being "sharp" by not doing drugs. Students throughout the district received pencils imprinted with the slogan of the day.
Wednesday's slogan was "My future is bright". To emphasize the importance of being "bright" by choosing not to take drugs, students and staff were encouraged to wear the color red. Participation on Wednesday brought waves of red throughout the district as students and staff brightened the hallways displaying their support of staying drug free.
Thursday's slogan was "Display Good Character". In order to emphasize the importance of displaying good character by remaining drug free, each student received a "Good Character" silicone bracelet, which was imprinted with a two-sided drug free message to underline the message of the day.
Friday ended Red Ribbon Week at Mid-Prairie Elementary schools with teachers at all three elementary schools emphasizing the pillars of the "Character Counts" program; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. These traits form the basis of "Character Counts" program and are emphasized within the Mid-Prairie school district on a day-to-day basis.
Though Red Ribbon Week officially ended on October 31, the importance on remaining drug free is emphasized at Mid-Prairie Schools yearlong. With staff and students working together to stay informed, and keeping communication open within the schools, it is the objective of all concerned to ensure students are well informed in order to make good decisions when it comes to staying drug free.
