WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2003)--Many Army commands are participating in the 13th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Week Oct. 27-29, partly to combat the rising rate of drug abuse among teens nationwide.

The Red Ribbon observance at the Pentagon kicked off Oct. 27 with presentation of the 2003 Secretary of Defense Community Drug Awareness Awards. Fort Stewart, Ga., was recognized for a prevention campaign that included community block parities, visits to schools, an Alcohol Awareness Day, and "blue light specials" in which entire battalions were screened simultaneously for drug abuse.

The Florida National Guard was recognized for outreach and prevention programs that reached about 62,000 students last year.

"We are creating a chain reaction," said Spc. Eddie Jesse of the Florida National Guard. He said the command's Substance Abuse Programs inform teachers and high school students who then inform those students below them.

Since 1990, DoD has observed Red Ribbon Week to acknowledge community drug awareness efforts. Roots of the observance can actually be traced back to 1985, DoD officials said, when Special Agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camerena of the Drug Enforcement Agency was kidnapped in Guadalajara, Mexico, and killed by drug dealers. Citizens of his hometown in California wore red ribbons to remember his sacrifice.

Three years later, the National Family Partnership instituted Red Ribbon Week nationwide as a time to focus attention on the destructive effects that drugs have on communities.

"Between 70 to 80 percent of domestic disturbances are due to drug or alcohol use," said Ed Habeck, clinical director of the Army Substance Abuse Program at Winn Army Hospital, Fort Stewart.

Alcohol abuse can affect the liver and lead to other problems, Habeck said. He said drug abuse can lead to psychological changes and affect the thought process.

The use of illegal drugs among teenagers increased 2 percent this past year, according to a recent nationwide survey. The Pride Survey gathered responses from 107,000 students in grades six through 12 nationwide during the 2002-2003 school year.

Marijuana was the most popular illegal drug used by teens, accounting for the largest increase in drug use over the previous year, according to the survey report. Marijuana use increased from 19.5 percent in 2001-02 to 21 percent in 2002-03. Significant increases were also seen in the use of heroin, cocaine, inhalants and depressants.

During Red Ribbon Week, the "Race Against Drugs" organization partnered up with the Department of Defense. Pete Neimeier displayed his 2002 Dodge Intrepid minicup racecar in the Pentagon courtyard, along with Eric Saunders' Suzuki motocross bike,Justin Allgaier's 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Stock Car, Bill Lester's 2003 Dodge Craftsman Truck Series and the M&M Nascar racecar.

Various agencies also had exhibits on the Pentagon concourse. Miss USA Susie Castillo and former Washington Redskin Darrell Green talked about the benefits of leading a drug-free life. Lynda Carter, who once starred as "Wonder Woman," also talked about her recovery from drug dependency.

More information on Anti-Drug Awareness can be found at www.acsap.army.mil.

(Editor's note: Aaron Westbrook compiled the information in this article from sources which included a DoD news release and an article by Jonathan Stack, assistant editor of the Fort Stewart Frontline newspaper.)