The Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership will kick-off Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 23 through 31 by highlighting its year-round prevention efforts at various events, according to Renae Gaines, coordinator of the program.

Madison Middle School students and staff will wear and display red ribbons to demonstrate their commitment to be alcohol and substance free.

Gaines said in an email that the Red Ribbon Celebration acts as a catalyst to establish public and private partnerships for year-round tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention.

“The Red Ribbon empowers us to take action in our neighborhood and schools and develop an attitude of intolerance to youth alcohol and substance abuse,” according to the release from Gaines.

The Red Ribbon Celebration was developed in response to the death of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena, who was brutally murdered by drug traffickers in Mexico in 1985. What began as a Red Ribbon Campaign to commemorate his death has developed into a year-round celebration to highlight positive actions taken by state, county and local agencies, departments and organizations.