Houston Area Red Ribbon Events

September 28th
Currently, many experts view prescription drugs as one of the most widely abused illegal substances in the State of Texas. Due to these alarming statistics, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bay Area Council on Drugs & Alcohol (BACODA), and the Southeast Harris Community Coalition are partnering to present a one-day conference which will address the prevention, treatment and enforcement aspects of prescription abuse. This event will take place on September 28, 2007, at the Gilruth Center – NASA, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX. 77058.  We are expecting approximately 250 attendees.

October 4th
This October will be a significant milestone for Houston Crackdown, as they observe their Twentieth Annual Drug Prevention Month citywide recognition. We anticipate having approximately five hundred (500) Houston area middle school students participate in the twentieth annual Drug Prevention Month Kick-off Rally. The Rally will take place on Thursday, October 4, 2007, 9 – 11:30am, downtown Houston, City Hall steps located at 901 Bagby St. The theme for the rally is Houston: A City of Champions. The organizing committee consists of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Independent School District, and Phoenix House.

At this time we are all working to identify several sports teams and individuals who have represented Houston well over the past twenty years. The message that will be conveyed is that champions and championships go together, drugs, don’t’!

October 18th
The Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Red Ribbon Rally will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., at Northwest Mall located at 555 Northwest Mall, Houston, Texas 77092 and at 12:30 p.m. at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas.

As part of this year’s celebration these agencies are inviting 1,200 5th and 6th grade student leaders from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin to participate in an anti-drug rally and a “mock” anti-drug legislative policymaking session. Arrangements include a roundtrip bus ride from Houston to Austin, Texas; a tour of the State Capitol; staging the passing of an anti-drug bill on the legislative floor of the Capitol; and speakers who will address how the legislative process works, along with a full day of festivities and celebrity guests.

October 24th
As part of Houston ’s month long observance, DEA, Houston Crackdown, and the drug prevention month committee will take time out to pay tribute to lives lost as a result of the devastation caused by drug abuse. Specifically, this group will host a public vigil in honor of citizens and special loved ones from throughout the Houston-Harris County region. The public vigil will take place Thursday, October 24, 2007, 7:00pm – 8:00pm; at Houston City Hall on the steps in front of the Reflection Pool, located at 901 Bagby St . The organizing committee is working diligently to identify the names of people wishing to have their loved ones recognized during this vigil. They will be several representatives from area drug treatment programs, religious organizations, and many others present. The message is that Houston is a caring and concerned community!

For more information, contact the Houston Division.