Primary Prevention Strategies

The Red Ribbon Celebration provides an opportunity for each of us to develop and implement effective Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention awareness campaigns at our schools and in our communities that include "Primary Prevention" strategies.

Since Red Ribbon Week is one of the most visible prevention campaigns observed each year, it is important for you to develop an understanding of the Six Primary Prevention Strategies and consider how to incorporate these into your campaign.

By understanding these concepts, you will be able to evaluate your planned activities and make necessary changes, modifications and/or improvements to enhance your program.

Be sure to:

Evaluate each activity in advance, in order to identify your program’s strengths and weaknesses and make needed changes/improvements.
Eliminate activities that aren’t as meaningful. (If you find your agenda is too full, you will know where to make the final "cuts".)
Understand how your program is benefiting the students you are serving. Then, you will be able to explain to others "how and why" the Red Ribbon Celebration makes a difference.
It is a wonderful feeling to know that what you are doing is important and why - It is even better when you are able to explain it to others.

Back to Basics

Six Primary Prevention Strategies

Below you will find information on each of these strategies. Knowing this information will help you develop a smart Red Ribbon Week.

Strategy 1: Dissemination of Information

The Red Ribbon Celebration provides an opportunity to Disseminate Information, thus providing awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of ATOD use, abuse and addiction and their effects on individual families and communities.

Strategy 2: Education

The Red Ribbon Celebration provides Educational Opportunities through classroom discussions, assemblies, guest speakers, family/parent education workshops, etc. These types of activities aim to affect critical life and social skills, including decision making, refusal skills, and critical analysis.

Strategy 3: Alternatives

The Red Ribbon Celebration provides opportunities to host activities for youth that offer positive Alternatives which exclude ATOD use. These types of activities reinforce the no use message while bonding the youth to their community, since it is perceived by the youth that his/her community cares about his/her needs.

Strategy 4: Problem Identification & Referral

The Red Ribbon Celebration provides opportunities for Problem Identification and Referral through student/parent/staff participation in drug education activities and through the identification of resources available at school and in the community.

Strategy 5: Community Based Process

The Red Ribbon Celebration is an effective Community Based Process since it involves volunteer training, staff/officials training, systematic planning, multi-agency coordination and collaboration, accessing services and funding, and community team-building.

Strategy 6: Environmental Prevention

The Red Ribbon Celebration can encourage citizens to get involved in promoting Environmental Changes within their community. Students themselves often host media awareness campaigns, visit businesses and challenge the promotional materials they use as well as encourage store owners to enforce tobacco and/or liquor laws.