Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 Source: Hub, The (CN NT) Page 10 Copyright: 2004 The Hub Contact: http://www.hayriverhub.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2349 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) GRADS DARE TO BE DRUG-FREE Police Hope They Have 74 New Fighters In The War against Drugs. Princess Alexandra hosted graduation ceremonies Wednesday for the 2004 Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. RCMP Const. Neala Dollard led the program, and says the graduates were "74 wonderful students" in three Grade 6 classes. The program covers ways to say no, consequences of drug use and ways to avoid violence. It is an interactive program that includes lots of skits and role-playing, some of which were demonstrated for parents and teachers on Wednesday. "Unfortunately," said Dollard, "we don't have to look very far to see the effects of drug abuse in our community." Three students read essays they had written about their reasons for staying drug-free. Students from another class read poems, and the third class performed skits. MLA Paul Delorey said students will see increased peer pressure to do drugs as they get older, and the DARE training should help them. MLA Jane Groenewegen commended the students for "putting part of yourselves, your hearts, into the program." She quoted a line from one of the essays: "What's so good about drugs anyway?" "That's a good question to ask yourselves," Groenewegen told the Grade 6 class at Wednesday's assembly. The DARE program is a partnership of the community and the RCMP , sponsored in part by NWT Power Corporation. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager