Red Ribbon Week at Vista Bay

Posted by Lauren on November 1, 2009 in Drug Abuse, Drug Usage

During the week of October 17th through October 25th 2009 drug treatment centers around the nation celebrated Red Ribbon Week. Vista Bay, a California drug rehab, hosted a very special graduation event in honor of this event on October 16th, 2009. The Mayor of Seaside, Ralph Rubio, was in attendance as we delivered three students back to their families and loved ones. Several past graduates were also in attendance and shared their new found successes since finishing the Vista Bay Program. The event concluded with the presentation of a Proclamation to Vista Bay attesting to the entire staff’s commitment to a drug free world.

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated in honor of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena. Agent Camarena was an 11-year veteran of the DEA assigned to the Guadalajara, Mexico office where he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. In 1985, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline. On February 7, 1985, he was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His tragic death opened the eyes of many Americans to the dangers of drugs and the international scope of the drug trade. Shortly after Kiki’s death, Congressman Duncan Hunter and Kiki’s high school friend Henry Lozano launched “Camarena Clubs” in Kiki’s hometown of Calexico, California. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifice made by Kiki Camarena. These pledges were delivered to First Lady Nancy Reagan at a national conference of parents combating youth drug use. Several state parent organizations then called on community groups to wear red ribbons during the last week of October as a symbol of their drug-free commitment. In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons. Presently around 80 million people celebrate Red Ribbon Week.