TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
Enrique “KiKi” Camarena
was born in Mexico, had been a U.S. Marine, a fireman, a criminal investigator,
and a narcotics investigator before he became a special agent for the Drug
Enforcement Administration in 1974. He was very concerned about the drug
problem in this country and firmly believed that even one person can make a
difference. But while on an assignment
in 1985, he was abducted, tortured for hours, and then murdered.
To honor Camarena’s
memory and his battle against illegal drugs, angered parents and youth in
communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their
commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in
America.
In 1988, the National
Family Partnership coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week, with President
and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons. Red Ribbon Week is the
nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program and is dedicated
to educating youth and encouraging participation in drug prevention activities.
It is observed annually during the last week in October and this year’s
campaign is “YOLO - Be Drug Free - #youonlyliveonce.”
But what does that
mean? YOLO is an acronym for “you only live once” and for most people, it
implies that one should enjoy life, expressing the view that you must make the
most of the present moment without worrying about the future, even if that
entails taking risks, as if there would not be another chance for it.
But taking drugs should
not be one of those risks. YOLO also implies that you only have this one life
to live, and in order to make the most of your life, you need to nurture and
preserve your body and your mind. You will find in life that there are many
things that are out of your control, but taking care of yourself is.
Taking drugs can put your safety, and the safety of others, in jeopardy. Taking
drugs can cause conflicts in relationships between friends and family. Taking
drugs negatively impacts your ability to focus, study, work, and pay bills.
Taking drugs can trigger psychosis, anxiety, tension, paranoia, and depression.
Taking drugs can damage the liver, brain, lungs, throat, and stomach. Taking
drugs will not make the one life you have to live, better.
Truly, you only live
once, and tomorrow may never come. Life is precious and should not be wasted by
worrying, complaining, being negative, or doing drugs. Cherish each moment,
because life is too short to be anything but happy. Be well.