The Heart of New Ulm’s Brown County Chemical Health Action Team invites everyone in the Brown County area to celebrate Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23-31, 2022, and is sponsoring an essay contest and a coloring contest, both open to all Brown County residents.
Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug-use prevention campaign in the nation. Since 1985, the National Family Partnership, formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth, has devoted its efforts to the well-being of youth and provides drug awareness by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Campaign.
The campaign provides an opportunity for parents and their kids to get the conversation started to help keep kids drug free. Research shows that children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
This year’s theme is Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.TM The theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live drug free.
Essay and Coloring Contests
To help promote Red Ribbon Week, the Brown County Chemical Health Action Team is sponsoring an essay contest and a coloring contest, both open to all Brown County residents.
Essay contest: For the essay contest, entrants should write a 300-600 word essay on one of three topics: 1) Why drugs, alcohol and tobacco are dangerous; 2) The importance of creating a drug-free America; or 3) How you plan to stay drug free and live a balanced life.
Essays must be typed and double spaced and should be e-mailed to [email protected]. All submissions are due October 28, 2022 at 5 p.m. Two winners will be selected on November 4, 2022, and will be able to choose between a Minnesota State Park pass or Chamber dollars.
Coloring contest: Coloring sheets can be downloaded below or picked up at the public libraries in New Ulm, Springfield or Sleepy Eye. There will be multiple chances for entrants in each age category to win a gift card.
Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week and get tips for talking to kids about drugs.