Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program. It reaches millions of Americans during October. By wearing red ribbons, young people pledge to live a drug free life. It also pays tribute to DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. He believed that, eventhough he was only one person he could make a difference in the war against drugs.

In 1985 Special Agent Camarena was in Mexico working undercover, looking for the country’s biggest drug traffickers. He was very close to breaking the case when he was kidnapped and killed by the drug traffickers. His death openedAmerica’s  eyes to the dangers of drugs.

In honor of Special Agent Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red ribbons. Many groups began to form and they took Special Agent Camarena as their role model and embraced his belief that one person could make a difference. The first Red Ribbon Week was held in 1988.