Red Ribbon History

How a tribute became a movement

The National Family Partnership (NFP) began Red Ribbon Week in 1988 to commemorate the life and death of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, who died in the fight against drugs. NFP, an organization devoted to helping families and communities live healthy, drug-free lives, asked youth and adults to wear and display red ribbons during the last week of October to demonstrate their commitment to a drug free lifestyle and to remember Agent Camarena. The U.S. Congress quickly rallied to this cause, with Nancy Reagan as the first honorary chairperson.

Since 1988, communities throughout the country have embraced Red Ribbon Week and have sponsored many different activities that promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles, John Lasne, a U.S. postal  employee, was inspired by the 1992 Red Ribbon Celebration poster and wrote a story titled, “The Red Ribbon” for a storytelling event in Greenville, South Carolina. “The Red Ribbon” describes a village on the brink of destruction due to a sadness that touches all people and things. The king desperately tries to rid the kingdom of this curse. After many failures, a young weaver lifts the pall of gloom by using a red ribbon to unite the community and create positive change.

When schools and organizations plan events and activities to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, they pay tribute to a brave DEA agent by bringing people together to give our youth a priceless gift, a drug-free community.