Every October, schools across the United States observe Red Ribbon Week to promote drug-free lifestyles among students. In 2025, the Cobb County School District and school resource officers are highlighting the importance of ongoing communication between families and students about substance use.
School Resource Officer Edwin Ainsworth noted that while traditional drugs remain a concern, vaping has become increasingly prevalent among students. He explained that a fruity scent is often a sign of vaping, and he can also detect the smell of THC. According to Ainsworth, “These kids like them because they’re easy. They can pull them out and smoke them quickly. Some of them are odorless, some don’t even have smoke coming out of them, and kids can hide them.” He estimated that up to eight in ten high school students have tried vaping at least once.
Ainsworth emphasized the health risks associated with vaping: “It can cause them to have a hole in their lung, and if they get really addicted, their attitude changes. They start being a little more defensive when you talk to them,” he said. “If your lung capacity gets full with popcorn lung, you could end up on a ventilator.”
Cobb School Resource Officers stress that parents play a key role in prevention by staying involved in their children’s lives. Strategies recommended include watching for changes in social groups or mood, getting to know teachers and friends, setting clear expectations about substance use, discussing the effects of drugs and vaping on decision-making and future goals, starting conversations early in elementary school, modeling healthy behavior by avoiding substance use in front of children, and conducting regular checks of bedrooms or backpacks.
Red Ribbon Week serves as an annual reminder that prevention starts at home through open dialogue and supportive environments. The district encourages families to work together so every student can remain drug-free throughout life.
