NASHUA – Red Ribbon Week returns to the city to encourage members of the public to make healthy decisions, while building awareness around substance use prevention.

Nashua, along with the rest of the state, has been hit hard by the opioid crisis for several years now. The Red Ribbon Campaign’s mission is to present a unified and visible commitment toward a drug-free America.

In kicking off the campaign, Mayor Jim Donchess joined folks from the Nashua Prevention Coalition and city students who are belong to groups called Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at Leda Lanes on Monday evening. Students from the following SADD clubs were present: Nashua High School South, Nashua High School North, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, Nashua Police Athletic League (PAL) and Fairgrounds Middle School. Additionally, youth from the following youth service organizations, who support the coalition’s mission and initiatives were present: YMCA of Greater Nashua and the India Association of New Hampshire.

“This year’s Red Ribbon week, the 34th, is valued in Nashua as an important way to keep our citizens safe and healthy,” Donchess said while reading a proclamation.

Red Ribbon Week runs each year Oct. 23-31, although Nashua observes it along with the school district, from Monday to Oct. 27. Nashua Prevention Coalition Director of Programming Kameo Chasse said throughout the week, every school in the Nashua School District will feature grade-appropriate activities to build awareness and engage the community’s children in making health choices.

There will also be additional events revolving around prevention happening this week, including an opportunity for youth, community members and parents to learn more information about the impacts of vaping. This event, Vaping Unveiled, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua located at 1 Positive Place. Additionally, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the Nashua Police Department is conducting a Prescription Drug Take Back day in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration at the Division of Public Works garage located on Stadium Drive in the area of Stellos Stadium.

“I think this week, we’re really just trying to encourage parents and guardians to have conversation with their kids, regardless of their age,” Chasse said. “It’s never to early to have conversations with kids about healthy choices.”

As Red Ribbon Week commences across the country this week, the theme for this year is, “Send a message. Stay drug free.” National Family Partnership is the sponsor of this national week, which continues the tradition of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward drug use. The campaign began in response to the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique (Kiki) Camarena who was tortured and killed by drug traffickers in Mexico in 1985. Now, his efforts to make a difference live on and are embodied in this annual campaign, which is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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