Oyster River High School (ORHS) students and staff came together during the last week of October to observe Red Ribbon Week.

The annual event, which typically runs from October 23-31, honors the memory of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was killed in 1985 while fighting drug trafficking. In response to his death, communities across the country began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to living drug-free.

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest drug-use prevention program, which aims to inspire youth to make positive choices and stay drug-free.

This year, ORHS students participated in engaging activities during Advisory periods designed to raise awareness about the dangers of addiction.

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Britta Bartlett led interactive sessions, inviting students to spin a prize wheel and answer trivia questions that promoted important conversations about substance abuse prevention.

"Addiction affects many families, and we want students to know their resources, engage in activities that elicit informative conversations about substance use, and utilize healthy decision-making skills,” said Bartlett. “Red Ribbon Week gives us the opportunity to do that school-wide while making it fun.”

Through these activities, students learned valuable information while having fun, reinforcing the message that choosing a drug-free lifestyle is both important and achievable.