The St. Louis Wheel Turns Red Tonight for Drug Prevention Awareness Red Ribbon Week 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 30 Wednesday night at 7 p.m. the DEA will host a small ceremony at The St. Louis Wheel outside The Soda Fountain to show appreciation for those involved with Red Ribbon Week events. Entertainment will be provided by the Spirits of New Northside Drum Line. This event is the culmination of a month’s long effort to educate the community about the dangers of drug misuse and abuse. We hope the media will use this visual opportunity of The St. Louis Wheel at Union Station lit red for photo coverage, during evening newscasts, for bump shots and weathercasts to help create awareness and call attention to these important efforts.    FROM THE DEA: (St. Louis, MO) - The Drug Enforcement Administration hopes cities all across the country will “Go Red” throughout the remainder of the month of October in honor of Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.    At a Red Ribbon Flag Raising ceremony at the St. Louis Division Office earlier this month Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, William J. Callahan, III, encouraged community and business leaders in St. Louis to “Go Red” in support of Red Ribbon Week by lighting up buildings, landmarks, business and bridges throughout the metropolitan area. We are excited to announce that The St. Louis Wheel at Union Station has accepted that challenge and will be lit red on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 in honor of the DEA’s Red Ribbon Week campaign.   “We have had tremendous support from St. Louis area community and business leaders who believe coming together to work with law enforcement will make this region an even more enjoyable, safe place to live and visit,” said Special Agent in Charge Callahan, “to have the brand-new, 200 foot St. Louis Wheel at Union Station lit up in honor of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s community outreach efforts is truly an honor.”       Drug overdoses continue to be a leading cause of death across this country. In 2018, an estimated 68,500 people died as the result of a fatal overdose. More than a thousand of those deaths were right here in Missouri. In an effort to reduce the supply of lethal drugs we must reduce the demand using all the tools available including unrelenting enforcement, prevention efforts and treatment opportunities.   Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31. Throughout the week Special Agents, Task Force Officers and Outreach Specialists from the DEA share the story of Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena with students, staff and community leaders. SA Camarena was brutally tortured and killed in 1985 during an investigation of a dangerous, Mexican cartel. We continue to honor SA Camarena’s sacrifice year after year by shining a light on the dangers and violence associated with drug misuse and abuse.   Wednesday night at 7 pm the DEA will host a small ceremony at The St. Louis Wheel outside The Soda Fountain to show appreciation for those involved with Red Ribbon Week events. Entertainment will be provided by the Spirits of New Northside Drum Line. This event is the culmination of a month’s long effort to educate the community about the dangers of drug misuse and abuse. We hope the media will use this visual opportunity of The St. Louis Wheel at Union Station lit red throughout the day during bump shots and weathercasts to help create awareness and call attention to these important efforts.    Niagara Falls, the Empire State building, and the Capital Wheel in the Washington DC harbor are among other landmarks who have gone red for Red Ribbon Week. For more information or to access the Red Ribbon toolkit visit www.dea.gov/redribbon and follow us on Twitter @DEASTLOUISDiv   # # #