RED RIBBON Week promotes anti-drug lifestyle

The event involves people from law enforcement, clergy, schools and other groups.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Different branches of the Trumbull County community are coming together behind a common theme: making the community drug free.
The Rev. Martin Hardy of First United Church of Christ of Warren said Red Ribbon Week, which runs Oct. 23 through Oct. 31, involves the religious community, schools, counseling and nonprofit agencies, law enforcement and other groups.
The Rev. Mr. Hardy said Douglas Lamplugh, agent in charge of the DEA's Youngstown office, attended a meeting of the Warren Area Clergy Association, talking about a community-wide anti-drug event conducted in Florida.
"We thought we'd like to get something like that together for Trumbull County," Mr. Hardy said.
He pointed to meetings a few years ago on the city's West Side where residents voiced safety concerns because of drugs and drug dealers in their neighborhoods.
Lamplugh sits on the Red Ribbon committee, which organized the event.
"I told them, 'The DEA isn't going to solve your problem. The police aren't going to solve your problem,'" Lamplugh said. "As long as there's a demand there's going to be some greedy person out there who's willing to take a risk to supply it."
Clergy are in a good position to speak about the problem because people gather to listen to them, he said.
Taking action
The Youngstown DEA office supplied anti-drug commercials for the schools and Lamplugh offered to have agents speak to students.
Kathie Marando, director of prevention and community service at Community Solutions, another participant, said the event is being coordinated with Make a Difference Day, Oct. 23.
Events begin that day with a 5-kilometer run/1-mile fun run beginning on Courthouse Square. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
A drive for troops fighting in Iraq also is being conducted as part of the campaign. People are asked to donate items like food, morale boosters and personal hygiene products to be taken to the troops fighting in Iraq.
Those items may be dropped off by Oct. 22 at Community Solutions, High Street.
School events
Marando and Michelle Schmader, outreach manager for Warren City Schools, said a poster contest is being sponsored for middle school students as part of the event. High school students can participate in a contest to create an anti-drug public service announcement.
Red ribbons have been purchased for elementary students for the event, said Schmader.
Red Ribbon Week started in the late 1980s after the murder by drug traffickers of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena. The event began as a tribute to the agent.
Camarena's congressman, Duncan Hunter, and a high school friend, Henry Lozano, formed the Camarena Clubs in Camarena's California hometown. Club members pledge to live drug free in the agent's honor. The Red Ribbon Campaign was borne out of the clubs.
denise_dick@vindy.com