The Ribbons Campaign

Each week, =peterdawes and =Obsidian-Siren will introduce a new ribbon raising awareness for a specific cause. On Sunday night, the new cause will be highlighted and will remain as such until the following Sunday.

What Can You Do to Help?

If you wish to help raise awareness for the week's cause, then create a deviation highlighting the cause and send a note to either =Obsidian-Siren or =peterdawes with the deviation's link. We will add it to the list of deviations created for the cause.

At the end of the week, we will submit a news article introducing the next week's cause. In that news article your deviations for the preceding week will be highlighted.

Can You Suggest a Cause?

Absolutely. Note either of us to submit a suggestion and, if possible, include a link to the cause's ribbon. It can be any social awareness cause, but please, nothing promoting hate, violence, or anything of the like.

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This Week's Theme - Substance Abuse



"People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency departments through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and prisons tally daily the strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Although use of some drugs such as cocaine has declined, use of other drugs such as heroin and "club drugs" has increased."

Substance Abuse Statistics in the USA

* Withdrawal from alcohol can cause anxiety, irregular heartbeat, tremor, seizures, and hallucinations. In its severest form, withdrawal combined with malnutrition can lead to a life-threatening condition called delirium tremens (DTs). Alcohol is the most common cause of liver failure in the US. The drug can cause heart enlargement and cancer of the esophagus, pancreas, and stomach.

* In addition to its direct health effects, officials associate alcohol abuse with nearly half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents. In 1992, the total economic cost of alcohol abuse was estimated at $150 billion.

* In 1997, an estimated 1.5 million people abused cocaine in the United States. Short-term effects also include paranoia, constriction of blood vessels leading to heart damage or stroke, irregular heartbeat, and death. Severe depression and reduced energy often accompany withdrawal. Both short- and long-term use of cocaine has been associated with damage to the heart, the brain, the lung, and the kidneys.

* Heroin use continues to increase. A 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicated 2.4 million Americans used heroin, including 81,000 new users in 1997. Officials see increased use mainly among people younger than 26 years, often women. In 1997, 87% of heroin users were younger than 26 years, compared to 61% in 1992.

* Because heroin is usually injected, often with dirty needles, use of the drug can trigger other health complications including destruction of your heart valves, HIV/AIDS, infections, tetanus, and botulism.

More information on substance abuse, including definitions and statistics - can be found at the following websites:

* eMedicineHealth
* National Institute on Drug Abuse
* Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator


How You Can Help

* Create a piece of original art speaking out against substance abuse.

* Write a story, poem, or piece of personal commentary on the subject.

* Create a button or a stamp helping to raise awareness.

* Create a journal talking about substance abuse, helping to raise awareness.

Or, you can provide us with the link to something you already have in your gallery.

We will feature your deviation in the journals of =Obsidian-Siren and =peterdawes. We will also submit another news article at the end of this campaign listing all of the deviations submitted and thanking everyone who featured the campaign in their journals. (Be sure to note =Obsidian-Siren or =peterdawes with the links to all deviation submissions.)

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Thanks once again for helping us bring awareness to this important topic.

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Special Notice: Please refrain from posting negative or derogatory comments on submissions turned in to The Ribbons Campaign. All of these images are posted to raise awareness and, unless the artist requests critique, are not here for criticism. Many of these subjects are very sensitive subjects and many of the artists participating are victims themselves.

Thank you very kindly.