Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2001 Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Copyright: 2001 Columbia Daily Tribune Contact: http://www.showmenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91 Author: Lauren Bianco DARE TEACHES KIDS HOW, WHY TO SAY NO TO DRUGS Editor, the Tribune: For the past two months, I've been participating in a program called DARE. Those past two months have changed my life. There has been a debate lately in the press specifically about whether this program is beneficial. I believe it is. If it were not for the DARE program, I would not have learned so many helpful things such as how to say no, the reasons to say no, how drugs can affect your body and why they are bad for you and the consequences of drug use. This program is not just about drugs, though. It's also about self-confidence and being assertive, consequences of weapon use and the four pressures - media, peer, friendly and heavy. The DARE program is like a health class. It teaches you to take care of your body by not smoking or drinking or taking illegal drugs. I hope the DARE program goes on for much longer so other unsuspecting kids will have the opportunity to learn what I did. Most people turn to drugs because they want to get away from their problems. DARE has taught me that drugs don't make your problems go away - they add to them. Lauren Bianco 5570 Waterfront Drive N. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth