President's Message - October 2022
Red Ribbon is about creating herd or community immunity to the alcohol and drug problems America is facing.
Herd or Community Immunity is where a large part of the population is immune to a specific disease.
While currently the public is hearing about and focusing on Covid-19, Herd Immunity applies equally to alcohol and drug use.
In all populations across the world, about 10 % of people have a predisposition to alcohol and drug addiction.
Predisposition does not mean predetermined!
There are protective factors that mediate the disease, the biggest are the communities’ beliefs, their messaging, and role modeling about alcohol and drug use and abuse.
The biggest drivers and determinants of alcohol and drug use are:
- The belief that the substance is not harmful.
- Availability.
Only we can be the CATALYST to make a change in our children's lives when it involves drugs and alcohol use.Red Ribbon is the time to send accurate messages and have meaningful discussions about the use of alcohol and drugs. Mind and mood-altering drugs are frequently a cover-up for not dealing with feelings in a healthy way.
Help us lead the Red Ribbon Week Herd!
-Peggy Sapp, President & CEO
