36k bracelets to be handed out in Hall schools to mark Red Ribbon Week

GAINESVILLE - Across the country local communities will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, October 23 - 31. The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people each year.

For the first time, this year, the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County is providing Red Ribbon Week items to high school students as well as elementary and middle school students. A group of school counselors and social workers suggested that high school students be included in the distribution of red silicone wrist bracelets. The bracelets are embossed with this year s theme:  The Best Me Is Drug Free. All together, the Coalition is providing 36,000 wrist bracelets, according to the Coalition's Project Coordinator, JP Banks.

In addition, to help commemorate the observance, adults are being asked to wear something red on Wednesday, October 24. Adults are encouraged to, when you see a young person wearing one of the red bracelets; ask the student what being drug free means to him or her.

"Parents, grandparents, family and community members, when you see a young person wearing a red bracelet with  The Best Me Is Drug Free, take this opportunity to talk with them about the importance of being drug free, Banks said.

During Red Ribbon Week the Coalition is partnering with Center Point and their Community Prevention Alliance Workgroup (CPAW) to bring Chris Sandy and Eric Krug to Hall County. Sandy will be telling his story of how as a 22-year-old, he made the choice to drive drunk and how it resulted in the death of two innocent people. Chris story of Enduring Regret (http://enduringregret.org/) will be told along with Krug s. The life that Eric knew came to an abrupt and horrific end on his 21st birthday. On that night, he and three friends got into a car that was being driven by a drunk driver. The car later crashed, leaving one of his friends dead and Eric critically injured.

David Smith, Executive Director, Center Point said:  Students need to understand that there are consequences to actions and what better way than to hear Chris Sandy and Eric Krug describe how tragedy can occur by making one bad choice.

For further information, contact JP Banks at 770-534-1080 x277 or [email protected].

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/10/254070