Be your own hero
This is the official theme of Red Ribbon Week 2026
What is: Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free
Red Ribbon Week takes place every year during this final month of autumn.
What is October
If someone pressures you to try something you're not comfortable with, changing the subject or saying "No thanks" are examples of this type of strategy.
What is: a refusal skill
This highly addictive chemical is found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes.
What is: nicotine
Vaping is completely safe as long as it doesn't have tobacco in it.
What is a Myth. (Vapes contain dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, and highly addictive nicotine)
To "Be a Hero", this action can help a friend when you notice them stuggling or making dangerous choices.
What is: Telling a trusted adult
Red Ribbon Week was created to honor Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who held this brave job title protecting communities from dangerous drugs.
What is: a DEA Special Agent?
This word describes the pressure you feel to do something just because people your own age are doing it.
What is: peer pressure?
True or False: The vapor from e-cigarettes is just harmless water vapor.
What is False: It contains toxic chemicals and metals.
Myth or Fact: "If a doctor prescribes a medication to a family member, it is perfectly safe for me to take it too.
What is a Myth. (Prescription misuse is dangerous; medicine should only be taken by the person it was explicitly prescribed to)
According to the 2026 campaign, a student who stands up to peer pressure and says "no" is demonstrating what trait.
What is: Courage
This is the item citizens in Kiki Camarena’s hometown began wearing to honor his memory, which eventually became a national symbol.
What is: a red ribbon
Instead of just saying "No," you can use this tactic to suggest a fun alternative, like going to get pizza or playing video games.
What is: a distraction
Vaping can directly harm this vital organ system, making it much harder to run or play sports.
What is: the respiratory system / lungs
This extremely dangerous, synthetic opioid is often secretly mixed into fake pills or other drugs, and an amount as tiny as 2 milligrams can be fatal.
What is: fentanyl
True or False: Fictional superheros are the only one who can change a community.
What is False. Anyone can make a difference
This organization coordinates the national Red Ribbon Campaign every year for schools and families.
What is: the National Family Partnership
When you blame your parents or an upcoming sports practice to get out of a bad situation, you are using a convenient excuse to protect your own what?
What is: boundaries / safety
Companies often design vape flavors like cotton candy or fruit to specifically target and hook this younger age group.
What are: teens / middle schoolers
Though TV shows and social media make it look like "everyone is doing it," the vast majority of middle school students actually choose to do this.
What is: stay drug-free
This is the name of the Connecticut middle school student who created the national 2026 theme slogan.
Who is: Ava Tackett
The very first official national Red Ribbon Week celebration took place in this late-1980s year.
What is: 1988
This term refers to friends who actively help you stay safe and support your healthy choices, rather than pushing you into risky behavior.
What is: a positive peer group
This is the addictive process where a person's brain craves a substance so much that they feel like they cannot function normally without it.
What is: addiction
Peer pressure doesn't have to be a loud insult. This type of subtle peer pressure happens when you change your behavior simply to blend in with a crowd.
What is: indirect (or silent) peer pressure