TYLER (KYTX) - It's a week dedicated to creating safer futures for our children.
Red Ribbon Week teaches kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and programs are going on in schools across East Texas.
Teachers say they've seen more alcohol abuse cases, mainly in the high schools.
During Red Ribbon Week, teachers want to emphasize to kids that alcohol is in fact considered a drug, and that it can be just as dangerous as other substances.
TK Gorman Middle School student Addison May says, "We all signed our names because we all pledged to be drug free."
Their promises fill a future full of choices, with knowledge and confidence to say 'no'.
TK Gorman teacher Michelle Nemec is heading up this week's Red Ribbon events.
She says, "They don't realize that there is even an issue, or even an issue in this school."
Each day of the week has a different theme.
Addison says, "It's 'Black Out Day', and the theme is 'Black Out Drugs,' so we're all dressed in black"
Nemec says the first step for kids is knowing what's out there.
"They have to know what choices they have in order to make them in the first place."
Nemec has taught at TK Gorman for 6 years and says times have changed.
"We have seen increases, mainly in the alcohol sector."
It worries her and other teachers and parents that kids don't consider alcohol to be a drug, and that the temptation just gets stronger as they get older.
"It's not just the things they see in the movies, the marijuana and the hard drugs," Nemec says, "but alcohol is a drug too."
It's something 8th grader Emily Kent says she's learned a lot about this week.
"Drugs can mess up your life," she says, "even one drink, so telling them now instead of telling them after they've drank will help them in life."
Emily hopes her school's pledge to stay drug free, creates a ripple effect.
She says, "We're a whole school and if we work together we can spread it around other schools so just not one person knows about the damage it can do."
They're learning and pledging together, to better their lives.
Nemec says, "We want that bond. We want them to look out for each other."
Nemec says that because the trend is going up, the goal is to teach kids about drug and alcohol awareness at an early age, so they're better prepared to make these difficult decisions.
TK Gorman will continue to have a drug awareness theme at their middle school for the rest of the week.
TISD schools are also participating in Red Ribbon Week events.
