No Good Deals With Drugs

Pawnee Heights Elementary in Burdett, Kansas, capitalized on the popularity of a current game show to reach students. The school acted out “Deal Or No Deal” using paper briefcases. The “contestant” chose a case, then was shown the contents of other cases opened by students playing the “models,” such as an X-Box or laptop computer. The “banker” tempted her with things like looking cool by smoking and freedom from stress with beer. The contestant stayed strong and kept her own case until the very end, a case which held “a long, healthy, happy life.” Your students could reenact this game, too. Reward them for participating and for making good decisions with “My Life, My Choice” Red Satin Ribbons or “My Life, My Choice” Bookmarks.

Famous Examples

Red Ribbon Week has made its way into Belmont Pines Hospital, a behavioral health facility in Youngstown, Ohio. Youth patients were asked to each pick a celebrity who has a chemical dependency issue. Their assignment was to first learn about these troubled stars (staff provided articles), then write letters to them. Patients wrote how they felt and what a role model should be like. At your organization or school, expand on this exercise. Hand out a “Make Footprints Worth Following” Red Sparkle Pencil and Red Satin Ribbon to each participant.