The death of pop icon Whitney Houston Saturday is yet another reason we cannot become complacent in teaching our children — again and again — the danger of illicit and prescription drugs and alcohol. While the autopsy results will not be available for several weeks, the testimony reported in the media given by several who observed her in the hours before her death indicate that alcohol likely played a part in her demise, as did the prescription drugs authorities found in the hotel room where she died.

On Houston’s last full day of life, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office officials joined Board of Education representatives in Robertsdale to recognize Red Ribbon essay contest winners and a fund drive to raise money to purchase a drug-sniffing canine for the Sheriff’s Office. The essay required fourth- through sixth-graders who entered the contest to put some thought into why they want to live a drug-free life.

At the ceremonies, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said, “I have learned that the only crime prevention occurs in our homes and schools. We need to address it at a very early age.”

While it does need to begin early, it can’t stop there. Parents are the first line of support in guiding children to make good lifestyle choices. However, with many children today being raised in homes where the parents are themselves addicted to some substance, the first line is often broken. Schools and law enforcement can’t do this job alone either. Our churches, youth organizations and communities as a whole need to be part of the process, encouraging, contributing to a drug-free environment and offering support and guidance as children move to adulthood. Unfortunately, it will take the entire village of America to turn the tide of substance abuse our nation is awash in.

Red Ribbon is just one of the things we need.