The Edwardsville Peer Influence Club is hosting Red Ribbon Week Oct. 28-30 to raise awareness about substance abuse and addiction.
“Red Ribbon Week has been around for such a long time, and it is a tradition to bring awareness to the harmful effects of drugs on people,” said senior and EPIC council member Lucy Goebel.
According to senior council member Raegan Webb, EPIC has brought Red Ribbon Week – a nationwide initiative – to EHS in myriad ways.
“EPIC has prepared many things … including handing out red ribbons for students to wear, … putting daily drug facts in the announcements, … having themed dress-up days, … handing out candy to students who are participating in the themed dress-up days and even selling snow cones during lunch,” Webb said.
The drug facts on the announcements, such as Oct. 29’s, which read, “more than $600 Billion lost annually to substance abuse,” were coordinated by EPIC’s Red Ribbon Week committee with help from Chestnut Health Systems, according to senior and council member Kaylee Gessford.
The snow cone stand, where EPIC members sold frozen treats for $1, was open during all lunch periods.
“Working in the snow cones stand can be hectic and fast-paced,” Gessford said. “But, overall, I enjoy it because I get to interact with many people, and it can be fun to make the snow cones.”
The proceeds from the snow cone sales go back to EPIC, according to Gessford.
“EPIC uses the proceeds from the snow cones sales to fund events and activities throughout the year, including Red Ribbon Week,” she said.
According to senior and council member Drew Sutherland, EPIC was unable to purchase the ribbons that are traditionally handed out at the start of Red Ribbon Week, meaning that they had to use some from last year.
“The ribbons that were handed out by EPIC members this year were leftover ribbons from the previous years, which is why some have the sticky strip while most do not,” Sutherland said.
While some students didn’t get ribbons with sticky strips, they could still pick up bracelets from Chestnut Oct. 25 that gave them access to free giveaways around the community, such as french fries from Hi-Pointe Drive-In, a cupcake from The Cup and a bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Per Gessford, Chestnut selected which businesses to partner with.
“This is something new with Chestnut, so technically it’s not directly affiliated with the school, but I think they just wanted to get the student body more engaged during Red Ribbon Week,” Goebel said.
According to posters put up around the school by EPIC members, Red Ribbon Week began after the murder of Kiki Camarena, a DEA agent in Mexico in 1985. Camarena’s death led to his supporters wearing red ribbons, and, since 1988, Red Ribbon Week has educated youth and encouraged “participation in drug prevention activities,” according to Red Ribbon’s website.
For Webb, the history behind Red Ribbon Week gave her a deeper appreciation for drug prevention.
“Learning about Enrique Camarena really opened my eyes up to the reality of drugs and the consequences that can come along with them,” Webb said. “Enrique’s story showed me how drugs don’t just affect you – they can affect the people around you as well.”