Red Ribbon Week 2020 Observed

Another year has passed and its again time for the annual Red Ribbon Week. This year, Red Ribbon Week is being observed Oct. 23-31. The theme this year is “Be happy, be brave, be drug free.”

This year’s campaign focuses on encouraging youth, families and communities to live healthy, happy and drug-free lives. It also serves as a reminder that we are all empowered with shaping the communities around us through positivity, bravery and strength.

With that in mind, I want to take time to talk about the dangers associated with drug use.

According to drugrehab. com, alcohol is the most often used drug among teens. The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey completed by high school students in the State of Montana showed that 61 percent of high school students had every tried using alcohol with 40 percent of those coming between the ages of 13-16.

We also know that for the past three years, there has been a youth vaping epidemic in the United States. Electronic cigarettes are the most often used tobacco product among youth today. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 58 percent of high school students in Montana have tried using electronic cigarettes or vaping products. These devices are popular among youth because of their sleek designs. They also have just as much, if not more the amount of nicotine, the highly addictive drug used to hook youth to these products. Before I forget to mention it, but they also have many of the same harmful, volatile, and cancer causing chemicals that traditional tobacco products contain. Teen drug use of any form is dangerous because of the impact it can have on a teen’s development.

While these are certainly uncertain times, one thing that is certain is that Red Ribbon Week continues to and will continue to have an impact on youth in the future. Use this opportunity to talk with youth and empower them to make a decision that will impact not only their immediate future, but have a lifelong impact on them and their communities.

For questions about the Montana Tobacco Quit Line or how to help youth break the cycle of addiction, call me at 653-6212.