The Red Ribbon Story

Red Ribbon Week was inspired by the heroic work and sacrifice of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “KiKi” Camarena.  In 1985, Camarena was working undercover in Mexico to gather information on local drug traffickers.  His identity was discovered and he was abducted, tortured, and killed.

A movement to honor Camarena’s memory was launched within weeks by his friends and family in his hometown of Calexico, CA.  Camarena Clubs were organized and members pledged to live drug free in honor of the fallen agent and others like him.  The clubs gained national attention in the spring of 1985 when two members presented the Camarena Club proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan.

By summertime, the program spread to other states and parent groups began promoting the wearing of red ribbons as a symbol of the fight against drugs.  The grass-roots movement continued to grown and in 1988 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week.