Red Ribbon Week
Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.™
This year's Red Ribbon Week theme will help amplify the campaign's mission to encourage children, families, and communities to live healthy, happy, and drug-free lives. Red Ribbon week also focuses on helping all Arkansas communities to create strong and positive support systems for people struggling with drug addiction.
This year's Red Ribbon Week will also include a statewide, same-day viewing of "Chasing the Dragon" in partnership with the Little Rock FBI and other state and local organizations fighting to end the opioid addiction crisis. Warning: The documentary may not be suitable for all viewers.
Arkansas Schools Sign up to Participate
Red Ribbon Week Resources in Arkansas

Learn more about the national mission to help keep kids drug free.
Red Ribbon Week Resources
Arkansas Resources
- Chasing the Dragon Sign Up Form
- Chasing the Dragon Resource Guide
- Chasing the Dragon Viewing Day
- Alternative Education
- School-Based Health Centers
- Arkansas Dose of Reality
- Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators
- School-Based Health Alliance
- Arkansas School Counselors Association
- AR Take Back
- RAAD
- NARCANSAS
- AR Connect
- Mental Health & Addiction Services in Arkansas
- Arkansas Attorney General
National Resources
Resources for Addiction, Recovery, and Support
Urgent Resources
- ADHS Mental Health Hotline 1-844-763-0198
- AR Connect 1-800-482-9921 (Mental Health and Substance Abuse)
- Suicide 1-800-273-talk (8255)
- Poison Control Center Hotline 24/7 1-800-222-1222
- Arkansas Regional Prevention Provider Directory
Opioid Addiction PSAs
Partnering with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and State Drug Enforcement Director Kirk Lane, as well as the DEA and FBI, Arkansas PBS produced four public service announcements highlighting the toll opioids has had on Arkansas, and the programs and opportunities available to fight the problem of addiction in the state.
Two of the PSAs – “What Does Loss Look Like?” and “What Does Help Look Like?” – offer first-hand interviews. Community member Cynthia Edwards discusses the loss of a loved one to addiction, while Dr. Johnathan Goree, UAMS chronic pain specialist, details the help available through UAMS that might prevent similar loss in the future.
What Does Loss Look Like?
What Does Help Look Like?
The remaining two PSAs examine state programs created to make reporting and recovering from opioid addiction in Arkansas much easier. “What Does Addiction Look Like?” highlights the importance and effectiveness of the recently-instituted, statewide "Good Samaritan” law, while “What Does Recovery Look Like?” provides information on Arkansas's Opioid Peer Recovery Network, now in its second year of operation.
What Does Addiction Look Like?
What Does Recovery Look Like?
In addition to the 4 PSAs, ArkansasPBS produced a longer version of "What Does Addiction Look Like?" for social media.
What Does Addiction Look Like? (Long Version)
“Arkansas Week Special Edition: Opioid Crisis”
ArkansasIDEAS and ArkansasPBS have teamed up for Red Ribbon Week 2020 to produce “Arkansas Week Special Edition: Opioid Crisis” which aired Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. and addressed the ongoing opioid crisis in the state and the special measures Arkansas government and health care experts are taking to tackle the growing concern during the time of COVID-19.
Guests included DEA Little Rock Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Justin King, FBI Little Rock Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Scott Reinhardt, Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane, and Dr. Jonathan Goree of UAMS. Host Steve Barnes lead the discussion, which also featured a review of the FBI-produced documentary, “Chasing the Dragon.”
Arkansas Partners
Click on the logos below to visit our partner's websites: