Mount Kisco Coalition Supports Fox Lane Students' Participation in Drug Prevention Program

Fox Lane High School students joined millions of teens nationwide in pledging to remain drug-free as part of the annual Red Ribbon Week observance. The traditional red ribbon bearing the message “FLHS—Live Drug-Free” was available to the entire student body through the work of the Youth to Youth Club and with the financial assistance of Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention, the local Drug-Free Community coalition.

In addition to developing the banners, signs, and daily themed events that promoted anti-drug messages throughout the week, the FLHS Youth to Youth Club enlisted the assistance of Principal Joel Adelberg and coalition coordinator Nan Miller in planting red tulips in the school courtyard as a reminder of the Red Ribbon pledge. This year’s campaign theme, “Love yourself—be drug free,” appeared on bracelets, T-shirts, and water bottles that were given out to students throughout the week in the commons, where they could also pick up some fact sheets on marijuana, alcohol poisoning, and steroid use.

Responding to the energy and thoroughness of the students’ efforts in getting out the message through signage and events, Dr. Adelberg declared at Thursday’s bulb planting, “This is the best Red Ribbon Week we’ve had so far. There isn’t anybody in our community that doesn’t know this is Red Ribbon Week.” Addressing the students directly, he added, “I hope you all know what a difference you are making in our school.”

The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching out to young people each year from October 23 through October 31. The tradition of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs began after the 1985 murder of federal drug enforcement agent Kiki Camarena in Mexico City by drug traffickers. Since that time the National Family Partnership, promoter of the event, has successfully recruited millions of parents and students to pledge their participation in, and support of, safe, healthy drug-free communities and families.

PHOTO: Fox Lane High School Principal Dr. Joel Adelberg (center) is joined by faculty and Youth to Youth students to mark Red Ribbon Week with a bulb planting ceremony. Dr. Nan Miller, coordinator of the Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention Coalition, was there to receive the students’ thanks for financially supporting the week’s daily activities and messages about living drug free.