Red Ribbon Week Brings Drug Prevention Message to Eagle Pass School Community
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Red Ribbon Week provides Eagle Pass Independent School District students, families and educators an opportunity to reinforce the importance of drug prevention, healthy decisions and protecting the future of local children.
Observed nationally October 23 through October 31, the annual campaign encourages schools and communities to work together in promoting awareness about the dangers of drug use and prescription drug misuse. This year’s national theme is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.”
Eagle Pass ISD campuses have participated in previous years through Red Ribbon rallies, themed clothing days and other activities promoting drug prevention. This year’s individual campus schedules and activities should be confirmed through school announcements.
The meaning behind Red Ribbon Week extends beyond wearing red or participating in school spirit activities. The campaign creates an opportunity to help students understand how their choices can affect their health, education, relationships and future.
The red ribbon represents a commitment to preventing drug misuse. The campaign developed following the 1985 murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Mexico. People began wearing red ribbons in his memory, and the National Family Partnership coordinated the first national Red Ribbon Week in 1988.
For the Eagle Pass school community, the observance offers a starting point for conversations about peer pressure, personal responsibility and seeking help from trusted adults.
Parents can use the occasion to listen to their children’s concerns, discuss expectations and reinforce that questions about drugs and substance use deserve honest, age-appropriate answers.
Teachers, counselors and other trusted adults also have an important role in helping students recognize that they can ask for support when facing pressure or worrying about a friend.
The national campaign emphasizes that prevention is a shared responsibility. Its message encourages families, educators and community members to reinforce healthy choices throughout the year.
This year’s theme connects those choices with everyday leadership, encouraging young people to recognize that setting a positive example and supporting others can make a difference.
As Red Ribbon Week approaches, Eagle Pass families can follow their children’s campus announcements for participation details and use the observance to continue conversations about safety, prevention and a healthy future.
