Arlington ISD students are learning that being a superhero starts with making healthy choices.
During Red Ribbon Week last month, district drug and alcohol specialists Angela Lawrence and Kevin McKinney visited schools to share drug prevention education and encourage students to make positive decisions that support their health and future.
This year’s national Red Ribbon Week theme, “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free,” encourages students to recognize the importance of making healthy choices and understanding how their decisions can shape their futures.
Throughout the week, Lawrence and McKinney led presentations at elementary schools, providing students with age-appropriate information about drug prevention and the importance of staying drug-free.
Lawrence said the goal is to make prevention education fun and relatable while ensuring students leave with facts they can use to make informed decisions.
“We always tell students that they have their own superpowers,” Lawrence said. “Maybe they can run really fast, draw really well, play an instrument, or do hair. Whatever their talent is, that’s their superpower. Drugs and alcohol can take those things away from them.”
The specialists kicked off Red Ribbon Week by visiting Goodman Elementary, where representatives from UTA Mavs4Youth joined them to share prevention resources with students. Arlington ISD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Priscila Dilley also attended the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration in supporting student health and safety.
Students learned how drugs and alcohol can affect the developing brain and body, including the risks associated with vaping, THC, fentanyl, alcohol, and edible products. The presentation also addressed emerging trends, how certain products are marketed to appeal to young people, and potential legal consequences.
Although Red Ribbon Week provides a dedicated opportunity to highlight drug prevention, helping students make informed decisions is an ongoing effort.
“When students know the facts, understand the tricks and traps used to market drugs, and recognize the potential legal consequences, they are better equipped to make healthy choices,” Lawrence said.
As students celebrated Red Ribbon Week through campus activities and themed dress-up days, the message remained the same: everyone can make a difference by choosing to be a superhero in their own lives and communities.