Red Ribbon Week is the starting point. Prevention is every day. Red Ribbon Week gives schools a great opportunity to talk with students about healthy choices, substance use prevention and the importance of making positive decisions. But prevention shouldn’t end when Red Ribbon Week does.

Start with the Basics: What is Prevention?

  • Prevention = taking steps to reduce risks and strengthen protective factors before problems arise.
  • It can focus on many areas: substance use, bullying, mental health, peer pressure, and more.
  • Think of it as building resilience and healthy habits rather than just telling students what not to do.

Bring Prevention Into the Classroom

Make prevention part of every subject and activity

Get Parents Involved

Give families tools to keep the conversation going.

Keep Prevention Going

Build a culture of health and well-being all year.