The partners of the Irvine Prevention Coalition (IPC) were recently awarded a Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

The purpose of the grant is to support local community coalitions develop, assess, and implement effective strategies to prevent and reduce underage drinking. The proposal submitted by the coalition focused on strategies identified through the City of Irvine's Strategic Plan for Children, Youth and Families process including: 

• Developing a Merchant Education Campaign
• Developing a Parent Education Campaign
• Developing a Community Wide Social Norms Campaign

All members of the community are invited to join in this important effort. For more information, please contact Nancy Colocino at 949-936-7985 or Debra Bianchi at 949-559-8710.

Students were absolutely attentive. They didn't make a sound, and barely moved in a room where every seat was taken Sept. 18 at Creekside High School in Irvine, CA.

The object of their intent focus was a petite neatly-groomed, middle-aged woman, Mika Camarena, widow of the DEA agent Kiki Camarena in whose honor Red Ribbon Week was founded.

Her message was simple and direct: There is someone out there who cares about each one of you, but it is up to you to care about yourself and make wise choices for yourself and your life. There is a place for each of you to make the world a better place—no matter who you are or what your circumstances. It is up to you.

Mika, 60, was speaking as part of Irvine’s Red Ribbon Week preparations, the drug and alcohol abuse awareness and prevention week that will be Oct. 18-26 throughout the city and its schools.

In 1985, her husband Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent working in Guadalajara, Mexico. Trying to make headway against powerful drug cartels, he was responsible for the discovery and eradication of a large narcotics manufacturing operation in Chihuahua, Mexico

In February of that year he and a pilot who had worked with him were kidnapped, tortured and killed by powerful cartel leaders.

He was just a few weeks from reassignment to San Diego, a move away from constant danger that Mika and their three sons were more than ready for.

The investigation into the brutal crime revealed extensive corruption among Mexican Federal Police and eventually led to the indictment of 24 people, including a leader of a major drug operation. The leader was convicted and sent to prison but some have never been caught.

Mika talked to students about how she found a new life for herself back in the United States. She is proud that each of her three sons has continued their father’s important work in combating the cancer of drug addiction that still exists.

Continuing to honor Kiki and other fallen law enforcement officers through National Red Ribbon celebrations brings Mika great joy. Celebrating the lives of these fallen heroes helps make youth more aware of the sacrifices made by many to keep them safe.

She is now head of the Enrique S. Camarena Educational Foundation and feels good that the organization is making a difference.

Calling for students to find a way to make a positive mark in their worlds as well, she summarized,

“Each of you can make a difference. It is up to you.”

Sidebar:

The story of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, his work, brutal death and the investigation of that crime is the subject of a History Channel production, “Righteous Vendetta: Heroes Under Fire.”  It is available for purchase on the History.com website.

More information about Kiki and his life is available at www.redribboncoalition.com and www.camarenafoundation.org.