Congratulations to J. Keagan Miller, this year’s Enrique Camarena Red Ribbon Award recipient. This annual award recognizes and honors those who make significant contributions to the field of drug prevention.

A current Unit Commander for the Miami Valley Young Marines of Ohio, Keagan has worked with the program for more than fifteen years. “I was surprised and very honored to even be considered for such a prestigious award,” he said. Kaylyn Lonergan who is the Drug Demand Reduction Coordinator for the organization nominated Keagan.

Keagan has enhanced the drug prevention platform by completing nearly 500 Drug Demand Reduction education hours, which he has used to amplify the Young Marines’ vigorous DDR efforts. His unit is a member of the Montgomery County Drug Free Coalition, which regularly collaborates with the Young Marines to enhance drug prevention efforts. Additionally, he and the Young Marines work with the Families of Addicts, a local group focused on recovery.

Keagan has spearheaded the development of drug prevention education videos that are used throughout the Young Marines’ organization. He has motivated his youth members to lead virtual classes, and has developed and hosted a nationwide virtual Healthy Drug-Free Lifestyle Challenge.

The Miami Valley Young Marines was founded in 1998 as the Dayton Young Marines. The organization promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members and focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, Drug-Free lifestyle. Under his leadership, the Miami Valley Young Marines has been recognized twice by the Department of Defense having received the Fulcrum Shield Award for excellence in youth anti-drug programs.

When not working with Young Marines, Keagan enjoys spending time with his wife Tina and their three kids, Ian, Kira, and Owen.

“There are many ways to make yourself happy in life. Drugs shouldn't be one of them,” he said. “Surround yourself with good people and good things happen.”

Last week, Peggy Sapp, President of the National Family Partnership spoke at the unveiling of the new Drug Free USA Forever Stamp.  Last year, Mrs. Sapp and the DEA submitted a joint letter to the U.S Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to propose a stamp to raise national awareness about the dangers of drug misuse. On October 27, Mrs. Sapp was invited as an honorary guest for the Drug Free USA dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., where she led the pledge and revealed the new stamp alongside DEA Acting Administrator, Timothy J. Shea, Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, and Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier.. Click here to view the ceremony. Click here to purchase the Drug Free USA Stamp.

Unimpaired driving is one of the golden rules of safe driving.  Help us keep teens safe by sharing these materials that offer tips on how they can stay safe in uncomfortable situations.  Click here:  https://flteensafedriver.org/impaired-driving-prevention-materials/

Have you heard of Kaiserslautern Middle School (KMS)? KMS is a federally operated school managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade educational programs on behalf of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). Over the last few years, KMS, which is located in Kaiserslautern, Germany, has planned and participated in various Red Ribbon Week activities.

This year, KMS counselors and PTSA members have joined forces to create a host of fun and educational activities for their students, including a poster art project featuring this year’s Red Ribbon Theme, Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.™ Samples of their creative artwork are currently on display in the commissary, post office, café, and community bank, all of which are located on the Vogelweh Military Base in Germany.

“Having a serious conversation with this age group can make a difference,” said Susan Sondermann, current KMS PTSA President. “We want our students, teachers and parents talking to each other about the risks and the realities related to drugs and alcohol which is especially important in the military community,” she adds. “Military kids go through so much from family separations due to deployments, to multiple moves. It’s not easy.”

As part of their extended Red Ribbon Week celebrations, local school administrators will be featured on the Armed Forces Network (AFN) Radio to discuss the importance of drug and alcohol prevention this month. The KMS PTSA is also sponsoring a writing competition and hosting a Red Ribbon Spirit Week which will highlight the following: "Don't Get Tied Up in Drugs,” "Team Up Against Drugs and Violence" and "Dreaming of a Drug-Free World."  KMS will also be participating in the National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest, which is open to legal residents of the United States.

“Past research has shown that the hardships military kids face can lead to an increased risk when it comes to drug and alcohol use, said Sondermann.” We are passionate about Red Ribbon Week because of the message it sends.   We want the best for our kids.  We want to see them be happy. We already know they are brave, and above all we want to see them be drug free!”

In celebration of Red Ribbon Week, Natural High will be hosting a special Q&A with Psychologist and Comedian Matt Bellace to help us better understand substance abuse and the importance of living naturally high. Click here to register: https://557v5qk2.pages.infusionsoft.net/

Teenagers are often faced with many different kinds of temptations as they become young adults. Vaping, smoking and alcohol are just a few common examples of substances that young people are challenged to try. Click on the link below for tips from the Drug Free America Foundation on how teens can protect themselves from making poor life choices when placed in uncomfortable situations.

https://www.dfaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Protective-Factors-for-Youth.pdf

You may already be aware that each year schools and families across the country join the drug-free movement by participating in the National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest. Did you also know that legal residents in any of the United States territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and on military bases abroad are eligible to participate? Each Photo Contest winner will be granted $1,000 for the school of their choice to be used for drug prevention, and an iPad for themselves, so don’t wait! Gather your teams, put your thinking caps on, and get creative!  We look forward to seeing your fantastic photos. Contest runs through November 1. Visit our contest page for details.

Print out this Red Ribbon Word Search and see how many words you can find. 
Download the Red Ribbon Word Search.

Did you know the Drug Enforcement Administration, also known as the DEA, is responsible for enforcing controlled substances, laws and regulations in the United States? The DEA investigates and prosecutes individuals who grow, manufacture, or distribute drugs. As the nation’s largest drug prevention effort, the Red Ribbon Campaign and the DEA have worked alongside each other, hosting numerous awareness activities to ensure that deaths like Kiki’s do not happen in vain. The DEA has been a longtime co-sponsor of the National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest, which is now in its tenth year. Keeping communities Drug-Free is a mission both organizations have shared for many years and we believe will share for many more to come. 

Take a short break from school or virtual school and create your own Tie Dye shirt for Red Ribbon Week. Use a marker and write your drug-free pledge on the front (i.e., “I am drug free”).

Supplies you will need:

Follow the instructions in this short video:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8796161761585820/

Don’t forget to show off your awesome creation and tag us on Social Media!
Facebook & Twitter: @RedRibbonWeek and Instagram: @RedRibbonCampaign