(KLZA)-- October 23 - 31 is Red Ribbon Week, a time to reflect on the consequences of drug use and the role parents, educators, health care professionals, peers, and all citizens of Nebraska can play in preventing drug use by encouraging healthy behaviors, raising awareness, and directing those who need help to seek assistance.

The national Red Ribbon week theme is “Life's a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free." The theme serves as a reminder that daily choices piece together a bigger picture and are the building blocks of the future. Every day, every individual has the power to make decisions leading to a brighter tomorrow.

Early education about healthy behaviors and intervention can reduce the impact of substance use and mental health disorders on families, classrooms, and communities. Dependence on substances impairs an individual's ability to work, interact with family, socialize with peers, and manage daily activities.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says youth, families, and communities are more resilient when action is taken to stop the initiation and progression of substance use. Engaging in conversations about the consequences associated with substance use and shedding light on the resources available to help people be in recovery at their own pace builds a stronger Nebraska,

The first official Red Ribbon Week celebration was created by the National Family Partnership in 1988. The red ribbon symbolizes a continued commitment to reducing the demand for illicit drugs in our communities and to honor those who have given their lives fighting to keep communities safe.

Action to improve our communities and participate in Red Ribbon Week can be taken in several meaningful ways:

• Wear red ribbons and distribute them to your friends, family, volunteers, staff, and employees.

• Get to know the parents of your children's friends. Work together to set boundaries and encourage kids to solve problems by seeking help from trusted sources. Children are less likely to misuse substances when parents and other role models are involved in setting examples of healthy behaviors.

• Check out more Red Ribbon Week resources from the National Family Partnership: www.redribbon.org/resources

• Safeguard medications by storing them in lockboxes to reduce the chance of medications being ingested by an individual without the prescription.

• Dispose of prescription drugs to keep homes and communities safe. Leftover prescriptions, especially drugs for pain management, present risks of overdose, poisoning, misuse, or addiction for family members, yourself, or friends. Unused prescription drugs tossed in the trash can be retrieved and sold illegally. Drugs flushed down toilets can contaminate the water supply or accidentally be ingested by an individual, creating a dangerous and potentially tragic situation. Contact your local pharmacy for more information on proper disposal methods in your area.

• Have conversations about resources to prevent or respond to a substance use crisis.

  • 988 offers 24/7 access to mental health and substance use crisis response, suicide prevention response, crisis de-escalation, and connection to local care and treatment resources. Call or text 988, or webchat at 988lifeline.org.

• • NARCAN nasal spray is an immediate response to reverse an opioid overdose. Access NARCAN at stopodne.com .​