By Chloe Timmons, MSW Intern for The Path at Carteret Middle School
What Is Red Ribbon Week?
Red Ribbon Week is a yearly nationwide initiative focused on drug-prevention education and helping students understand why choosing a drug-free life supports their health and future. Middle schoolers are at a critical time in their lives when they may start being exposed to or experimenting with substances that are harmful to their development and well-being.
This message is especially meaningful for middle school students who are beginning to face new influences and pressures.
Middle School Prevention Matters
That is why clinicians with The Path at Carteret Middle School engaged students through a variety of activities to help them learn more about the negative effects substances can have on their lives and equip them to make healthier choices.
Daily Drug-Prevention Facts During Morning Announcements
To help reinforce these lessons throughout the week, The Path offered several educational activities and messages. From October 22nd through October 30th, The Path submitted drug-prevention facts to be read each day during morning announcements, including, “Did you know that using marijuana negatively impacts your mental health, memory, coordination, attention, and can lead to other problems in your school and social life?” (CDC, 2024).
Students Show Their Support by Wearing Red and Taking the Drug-Free Pledge
In addition to these morning messages, students were invited to participate in activities that encouraged them to show their support for a drug-free lifestyle. On October 28th, The Path invited all CMS staff and students to wear red in honor of Red Ribbon Week and tabled during all recess periods to invite students to sign the Red Ribbon Drug Free Pledge. More than 60 students signed the pledge and shared a reason why they want to remain drug-free for life.
Creative Posters Inspired by the 2025 Red Ribbon Week Theme
Of course, it wouldn’t be RRW at the Path without our annual poster contest! CMS students were invited to participate in the contest by picking up a blank poster and submitting their final design to a Path clinician using Red Ribbon’s 2025 theme of “Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free.’
More than 70 students submitted beautifully creative and colorful posters encouraging everyone to live drug-free. The top 3 winners each won gift certificates to a fast food restaurant, and the 4 runner-ups received either a Red Ribbon t-shirt or a Red Ribbon drawstring bag. All participants received a Path water bottle with treats inside. The posters were displayed in the gym for a special viewing for all contest participants, and are now posted around CMS (and on Instagram #thepathcms).
Thank You to the Carteret Middle School Community
Overall, the enthusiasm and participation from CMS students helped make this year’s Red Ribbon Week both meaningful and memorable.
The Path at CMS thanks all students and staff who participated in Red Ribbon Week! We hope our CMS Ramblers can make more informed choices about drug use and stay true to living a drug-free life!