Pubdate: Tue, 09 Oct 2001
Source: Star-Banner, The (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Star-Banner
Contact:  http://www.starbanner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1533
Author: Lawrence Wise

NEW ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM, REACT IS IN OCALA

OCALA -- Marion Sheriff's deputies have designed a plan to take "Just say 
no" a step farther by reinforcing for children and teen-agers the dangers 
of alcohol and illegal drugs.

With the REACT program - Resistance Education And Conflict Training - 
deputies hope to continue the message given by the DARE, or Drug Abuse 
Resistance Education, program. DARE is taught to fifth-graders, while REACT 
will be taught to sixth-, eighth- and 10th-graders.

At the direction of Sheriff Ed Dean, deputies Pete Richter and Allan Brooks 
worked during the summer to create the program, said Sheriff's Maj. Patti 
Lumpkin, who oversees the Youth and Community Services Bureau.

"DARE teaches you how to 'just say no' to drugs," Lumpkin said. "But after 
that, how do you handle it?"

The new program will help teach children how to handle issues like peer 
pressure, Lumpkin said.

Officials plan to eventually have the program at every school in the county 
outside of Ocala city limits. REACT materials also will be made available 
to schools inside Ocala city limits, Lumpkin said.

Most schools should have the program by the end of the year, Lumpkin said.

Lumpkin said officials fear children are abusing alcohol and designer drugs 
like Ecstasy and LSD. DARE is a "great program," she said, but 
reinforcement is necessary from school resource officers.

REACT replaces a similar program that used to be taught to sixth- graders 
at some schools. REACT will be taught at more schools and will add 
education at the later grade levels.

The program is incorporated into health classes, Lumpkin said.

"It means we'll have better citizens tomorrow," she said. "The time kids 
spend in school should be the best time in their lives."

In sixth grade, students learn about topics including society's rules and 
laws, conflict resolution, peer pressure, substance abuse and cultural 
diversity. In eighth grade, students also learn about topics like suicide 
and club drugs. The tenth-grade program handles many of the same issues.

Richter said he believes schools have fewer students using tobacco and 
alcohol. The number of children using drugs are holding steady or going 
down, he said.

But problems persist, and the new program is necessary, Richter said.

"I try to tell them like it is," Richter said, who teaches the classes to 
middle school students. "I present it to the kids on a level they'll 
understand."

Dan Geer, safe and drug-free schools consultant for public schools, said 
some of the worst problems with drugs is that they are out there and 
children can get them. Some young people don't think of wine coolers as 
alcohol or consider marijuana a drug, he said.

The program also may help to build students' trust in the school resource 
officers, Geer said.

"I think it can be quite a resource for the schools," Geer said. "Every 
little bit helps."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens