WHO: Educators and school representatives who have reserved wristbands through Education Service Center Region 12 for their schools participating in National Red Ribbon Week.


WHAT: ESC Region 12 will distribute 80,000 wristbands for National Red Ribbon Week.


WHEN: Thursday, October 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


WHERE: ESC Region 12,  2101 W Loop 340, Waco, TX 76712


Waco, Texas - Education Service Center Region 12 and the Department of Defense’s Counterdrug Task Force are proud to contribute to National Red Ribbon Week by handing 80,000 red wristbands to community schools at no cost. An initial batch of 70,000 wristbands was claimed by 83 campuses within 45 minutes, so the Counterdrug Task Force supplied an additional 10,000 wristbands, said Jeni Janek, a counseling services coordinator at ESC Region 12.

“We are thankful for this opportunity to support our schools,” Janek said. “Red Ribbon Week helps encourage students to make safe choices by educating them about the dangers of substance abuse.”


The 2023 Red Ribbon Campaign theme is “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.” The theme is a reminder that Americans can make significant contributions to their communities by living drug-free and trying to be the best versions of themselves.


“People may not realize that substance and drug use could be used to mask pain, especially from a mental health crisis,” Janek said. “Helping our kids understand the risk and consequences of substance use is important, but we must also tend to their mental health needs to lessen the temptation for them to turn to drugs to numb their pain.” 


This year will mark a decade of ESC Region 12’s Red Ribbon Campaign. Over 10 years, the organization and partners have distributed more than 860,000 wristbands to assist schools in promoting awareness and healthy lifestyles. Janek and team members are looking forward to continuing this tradition and getting another year closer to the millionth Red Ribbon Wristband from ESC Region 12, she said.