Since 1990, Castleberry ISD and the River Oaks Lions Club have joined forces to educate students and the community about the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Annually, Red Ribbon Week encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles during the week of October 23rd through 31st.
Castleberry ISD hosted the annual Red Ribbon Breakfast this morning to recognize the students who placed first, second, and third for each grade level category in this year’s River Oaks Lions Club District 2-E2 Drug Awareness Youth Poster Contest. This year’s theme for the poster contest required students to depict the dangers and consequences of using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
This year's breakfast featured Dr. Kimberly Scales, a dedicated Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S), as the guest speaker. She provides support to individuals grappling with drug and substance abuse while also offering guidance to those who have tragically lost loved ones due to addiction. Dr. Scales shed light on the alarming rise in the prevalence of fentanyl in street drugs since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Many individuals inadvertently encounter fentanyl, often without awareness. Consequently, legislative bills addressing fentanyl now term it as "Fentanyl poisoning" instead of the previously assumed "Fentanyl overdoses." The crucial takeaway here is the sheer potency of fentanyl; just one pill can prove fatal. It is imperative for everyone to understand this potential danger.
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program in honor of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena who was murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers he was investigating. After his death, people in his hometown began wearing red ribbons to honor Camarena’s sacrifice.
In 1988, the National Family Partnership hosted the first Red Ribbon Week celebration, a celebration which has developed into anti-drug events uniting communities across the nation. The red ribbon has become a universal symbol recognizing the commitment to reducing the demand for illicit drugs in our nation’s communities.
Thank you to Edwin F. of Castleberry High School who designed the printed program for this year's event.
Congratulations to the 2023 Castleberry ISD students who placed in this year's Drug Awareness Youth Poster Contest. Their artwork will advance to the Lions Club District 2-E2 District Convention and be judged with other qualifiers from across the state.