IUSD RED ribbon week Theme: Life is a Puzzle - Solve it with Healthy Choices
IUSD RED ribbon week Theme: Life is a Puzzle - Solve it with Healthy Choices
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October 23- October 31, 2025
The Irvine Unified School District, the City of Irvine, the Irvine Police Department, Irvine Council of PTAs, parents and students will join forces to champion the Red Ribbon Week theme of “Life Is A Puzzle: Solve it with Healthy Choices.” This year’s theme highlights how every choice we make fits into the bigger picture - just like a puzzle coming together. It serves as a reminder that healthy choices help build a stronger, brighter future, one piece at a time, as we empower students to play their part in fostering safe and healthy school communities. Resources have been distributed to all sites, however, school-specific Red Ribbon Week activities for 2025 may vary. Parents are warmly encouraged to take an active role in empowering students to cultivate the skills and mindset needed to make healthy lifestyle choices throughout their lives.
The intent of observing Red Ribbon Week in Irvine Unified School District is to increase awareness of available education, programs, and services that encourage the full potential of healthy, drug free youth. Resources shared are meant to be a helpful guide when planning Red Ribbon Week activities.
REd Ribbon Week Approach to Prevention
REd Ribbon Week Approach to Prevention
Prevention science has come a long way in the ability to reduce substance use. The Red Ribbon Week National Campaign is based on scientific, evidence based principles for substance use prevention
Effective prevention strategies for youth focus on activities that build social-emotional competencies, thus developing emotional intelligence in our students. Prevention that is targeted through these domains works to connect youth to prosocial activities and build age-appropriate skills that can be relied on when faced with negative pressures and risks around drugs and alcohol.
Youth drug prevention has moved far beyond “Just Say No” and “This is Your Brain on Drugs” campaigns. Fear-based activities, one-time events, or assemblies seem like a good idea on the surface but can potentially cause unintended harm. However, prevention science demonstrates that often these types of activities can be ineffective.
Our district is moving beyond the activities referenced in the above paragraph, and are using a broader, prevention based, wrap around approach to support our students long term. On this site we aim to provide resources for teachers and parents to support drug free youth. Activities and ideas for use in the classroom can be found at the top of the page under "IUSD Resources".
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