Butler students dress up for Red Ribbon Week

By Rubina Halwani | [email protected]

Students at Butler Middle School celebrated Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 17–19 to raise awareness about drugs, alcohol, tobacco and related violence. Students were encouraged to wear different attire to show support for preventing drugs each day of the week.

Monday was “paw-sitively” drug-free day. Tuesday was sport jersey day. Children wore their favorite sports shirt to team up against drugs. Wednesday was hat day. Students wore a wide array of hats, hoods and caps in a show of putting a “cap” on drugs. 

Officers from the Cottonwood Heights Police Department spoke to students about drug safety at Butler on Monday. 

“Thanks Cottonwood Heights Police K-9 Unit for coming today and mix and mingling with our students,” said Lisa Devashrayee, a parent from the school. “We appreciate the support.”

The national red ribbon website notes “children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.”

Red Ribbon Week is part of a national campaign that began in 1985 and is sponsored by the National Family Partnership (NFP). Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was an honorary chairwoman for NFP. The theme for 2016 is “YOLO, #YouOnlyLiveOnce, Be Drug Free.” During the national campaign, parents and students are asked to pledge to remain drug-free.

The Utah PTA hosts the annual, weeklong event each year. The local PTA chooses the daily theme and manages the activities for their school. 

“Addiction is seven to 10 times more likely for kids who experiment with drugs or alcohol at age 14 or younger,” said Certified Prevention Professional Darren Reed in a tweet. “Talk to your kids.” 

To learn more about the program, visit http://redribbon.org/.