(New Philadelphia, Ohio) – Tuscarawas County Commissioners have declared Red Ribbon Week October 23rd through October 31st, 2022.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 109,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month reporting period that ended in March 2022. That’s an increase of 44% from two years earlier, when there were approximately 76,000 deaths reported in the 12-month period ending in March 2020.
The latest data indicates synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, were involved in more than two-thirds of the overdose deaths in the year ending in March 2022. Additionally, deaths involving synthetic opioids increased by 80% over the past two years.
“We are proud to have active Youth-to-Youth members who participate in the Red Ribbon Campaign across local school districts each year along with incredibly supportive organizations and officials, like our County Commissioners,” explained Jodi Salvo, Empower Tusc Coordinator. “Peer-to-peer communication encouraging each other to be substance free is powerful and can help this important message truly resonate.”
This year’s National Red Ribbon Week Theme is ‘Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.’ The Theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free!
10 student representatives of the Tuscarawas County Youth-to-Youth representing the Claymont, Strasburg, and Tuscarawas Central Catholic school districts, along with adult advisors and members of Empower Tusc attended the Tuscarawas County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, where commissioners issued a proclamation for Red Ribbon Week. This annual campaign focuses on youth substance use prevention.
The campaign is sponsored by The National Family Partnership and offers citizens and our youth the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to drug-free lifestyles. Business, government, parents, law enforcement, media, medical, religious institutions, schools, senior citizens, service organizations, and youth come together to demonstrate their commitment to healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
