Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jan 2005
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Beth Blackburn
Note: RCMP Const. Beth Blackburn is the drug awareness coordinator for 
central Vancouver Island.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARE TAKES ON NEW APPROACH WITH OLDER STUDENTS

Led by trained police officers who urge kids to "just say no" to drugs, 
DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education - has shown success among elementary 
school students.

But the approach has been less effective at discouraging older, at-risk 
students from using alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. So DARE is changing 
its strategy. And it's a strategy that parents can use at home.

Students today are very sophisticated, and we have to be current with how 
we approach them. Obviously, they can't "just say no." We need to give them 
skills they can use, and then reinforce those skills.

The new approach will be more interactive, the thing that research has 
shown to be most critical, and that this new program will provide 
reinforcement.

The DARE program uses a decision making model of D-define. A-access. 
R-respond. E-evaluate.

The great thing about this new curriculum is that we are doing 
re-enforcement in Grade 7 and Grade 9 which was not done here in B.C. in 
the past. The DARE officer will start with the Grade 5 curriculum and as we 
get this off the ground we will continue on with the Grade 7 and Grade 9 
curriculum in the next few years.

Drug use increases tremendously between Grade 8-10. Even with a reasonably 
effective program in place for Grade 5 and 6 students, you need to catch 
them again when they're at greatest risk - between middle school and high 
school.

Combining what's been learned in drug abuse prevention and basic education 
research, the new design shifts focus even further from the original 
lecture-based format.

The interactive approach gets kids involved and helps them internalize the 
message. We first have to get them to not want to use drugs, alcohol, or 
tobacco, and then train them so they have the skills to refuse.

It's an active learning environment. Rather than just lecturing, the 
officer becomes a coach or facilitator, and the kids come up with responses 
to a variety of scenarios. This tactic addresses pre-conceived notions 
associated with smoking, alcohol, and drug use, and how advertising, the 
media, and peer pressure influence kids.

When it comes to teaching kids not to smoke, drink, or use drugs, it is 
more than "just saying no." There's a perception among children that 
"everybody else is doing it," and it is important that they know that is 
not true.

You can find out more about the DARE program by contacting your local DARE 
officer or check out the website at www.dare.com or www.darebc.org.
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