It’s Red Ribbon Week! The Malheur County Health Department stands with drug prevention efforts in our community and across the nation. We believe that prevention is critical, recovery is possible, and we are all responsible for our children and their right to grow up drug-free.

The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23rd – October 31st each year.

Learn more about how to prevent youth drug use from one of the following excellent SAMHSA resources:

• Tips for Teens – includes fact sheets on alcohol, hallucinogens, HIV, sedatives, stimulants, e-cigarettes, marijuana, opioids, steroids, tobacco, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and inhalants
• Talk. They Hear You. – includes brochures on talking to kids about marijuana and vaping
• Keeping Youth Drug Free – resource guide for parents
• Talking With Your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol – parent guide and video
• Know the Risks of Marijuana – Did you know about 10% of people who use marijuana will become addicted? When people start using before age 18, the rate of addiction is about 16.6%.

Join us in celebrating Red Ribbon Week by reaching out to the kids and parents in your life and showing your concern about the level of drug use in our county and your care for all to have a healthy, happy life drug-free. Call 211 if you need connection to resources or 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.