ATLANTA, GA – Pledging to live a drug free life certainly has its rewards. More than 200 students from across Georgia will be recognized by Governor Sonny Perdue on April 1, 2010 for their participation in the Governor’s Red Ribbon Campaign. The ceremony will be held at the Georgia State Capitol in the South Atrium at 10:30 a.m., where award winners will officially be announced.

“The Governor’s Red Ribbon Campaign serves as one of our most important campaigns for Georgia youth because it encourages living a drug-free life at an early age,” said Cassandra Price, M.B.A., director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’s Division of Addictive Diseases. “This program has been instrumental in helping parents, teachers and communities talk about the dangers of drug use and this ceremony is our way of saying thank you to their commitment to live a drug-free life.”

Approximately 27 schools and organizations submitted work to be considered for the Red Ribbon contest. All the contest winners will be announced during the ceremony. Art work with substance abuse prevention themes will be displayed during the program.

The Red Ribbon awards ceremony is the culmination of actives that started in October during National Red Ribbon Week. National Red Ribbon Week began as an effort to honor Federal Drug Enforcement Agent, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty. Agent Camarena was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 1985 while working undercover investigating drug traffickers. In honor of his memory, friends and neighbors began to wear red satin badges. In 1988, the National Family Partnership organized the first Red Ribbon Campaign.

Georgia has participated since 1987, and Governor Sonny Perdue is the Honorary Chair. For more information, please contact Lisa Shockley Moery at 404-657-7735.

Contact Information:

Kristie N. Swink ([email protected])