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." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens