ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Drug use prevention has become a hot topic in recent times, and recently, some action was taken at the federal level to help with that.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for individuals from ages 18 to 45 in the U.S. and in 2025 alone, nearly 70,000 individuals died of an overdose involving cocaine.
Last week, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Representative Addison McDowell introduced a joint resolution with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to recognize Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug prevention program in the U.S.
“Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of the dangers of illicit drugs, promotes drug prevention efforts and recognizes the law enforcement officers who work to keep communities across the country safe,” a release from Moran’s office noted. “Originally founded in 1988 by the National Family Partnership, Red Ribbon Week promotes drug prevention and honors the memory of Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena, a DEA special agent who was murdered in 1985 while working to combat illicit drugs.”
“Drug overdoses remain a leading cause of death in our nation, underscoring the importance of investing in efforts to fight illicit drugs and raise awareness about the dangers of drug use,” Moran noted in a release from his office. “Red Ribbon Week provides the opportunity to educate others on the risks of illicit drugs, support prevention efforts and recognize the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep Kansans safe. I will continue working to combat illegal drugs and make certain that law enforcement is equipped with the resources needed to protect our communities and stem the flow of illegal drugs.”
“I lost my younger brother, Luke, to fentanyl, and I know firsthand the devastating toll these deadly drugs take on families,” McDowell noted in the release from Moran’s office. “Red Ribbon Week is an important reminder that prevention starts with education, strong families, and supporting the men and women in law enforcement who work every day to keep our communities safe. We owe it to the next generation to do everything we can to prevent another family from experiencing that same heartbreak mine did.”
“Illicit drugs cause immeasurable pain and loss in our communities. Red Ribbon Week is a chance to care for those fighting personal battles against substance use, shine a light on the dark forces driving the addiction crisis, and celebrate the law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe,” Whitehouse noted in the release from Moran’s office. “I’m committed to passing Senate measures, like my CARA laws, that help turn the tide in the fight against the addiction epidemic.”
