Red Ribbon week in Roanoke

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Organizations across the country and right here in Southwest Virginia come together to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse.

The Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare held their annual Red Ribbon week.

It's part of the annual candlelight ceremony to remember those who passed away from drugs or alcohol abuse.

It's also an opportunity for schools in the area as well the community to come together with creative ideas to make sure children don't turn to drugs.

Shelia Lambert, Red Ribbon Week chairperson, said,"I think it's great when the community comes together because it's a community problem, so we have to come together and really focus on helping our youth make positive decisions."

This year's theme was "YOLO, Be Drug Free."

The Red Ribbon campaign was started following the murder of federal DEA agent Enrique Camarena by drug traffickers.