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Jefferson County marks annual Red Ribbon Week

STEUBENVILLE –Red Ribbon Week, which is celebrated annually Oct. 23-31, is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.

Red Ribbon Week was started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was tortured and murdered by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. The Red Ribbon Week celebration serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.

During “normal” times, Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller and the Jefferson County Probation Department and Family Recovery Center, host a drug prevention walk, organizers explained. The third-annual walk has been cancled because of COVID-19 restrictions.

On Thursday, the Jefferson County commissioner issued a proclamation declaring Red Ribbon Week. Laura Trifonoff, adult drug court coordinator, and Ashley Wilson, a registered nurse from Family Recovery Center, spoke about the history of Red Ribbon Week and collaboration surrounding the week.

This year, Family Recovery Center has provided a red ribbon-themed vinyl banner and red ribbon-shaped yard signs for each school district in the county to display. It has provided various activities to get the students involved such as drug prevention messages to be read during the morning announcements, spirit week activities and provided pencils, bookmarkers and coloring booklets/activity pages. The center has provided red ribbon-shaped magnets with the saying “Live Drug Free” to multiple emergency personnel the Wintersville Police Department, Amsterdam Police Department, Toronto Police Department, Amsterdam Fire Department, Toronto EMS, Toronto Fire Department, Wells Township Police Department, Steubenville Police Department, Steubenville Fire Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

By placing the signs throughout the community, students hearing drug prevention messages, and emergency personnel displaying the magnets on the emergency vehicles the community is seeing a consistent message, “Live Drug Free.”

Family Recovery Center said it plans to continue this tradition each year, and officils said they greatly appreciate each organization involved in displaying the items provided.

Family Recovery Center continues to serve and accept new clients in Steubenville and Lisbon and naloxone is available upon request. For information, call (740) 283-4946 or (740) 424-1468.

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