Pubdate: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Quesnel Cariboo Observer Contact: http://www.quesnelobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260 Author: Stephen Braverman Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) STUDENTS D.A.R.E. TO BE HEALTHY Dozens of Dragon Lake elementary school students have the knowledge they need to make healthy choices about drugs and alcohol after graduating from the Drug Abuse Resistance Educationprogram on Tuesday. A total of 51 students from Grades 5 to 7 completed the D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E. officer Const. Bernna Barkman of the Quesnel RCMP said the program was excellent. "We had good participation and interaction amongst the students, teachers and myself," she said, "and parents are kept informed with what's going on." D.A.R.E. involves a nine-lesson curriculum with students completing work books, demonstrating good behaviour in class, keeping their bodies free from drugs, writing a D.A.R.E. report and signing a pledge to make wise decisions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The D.A.R.E. program started in Los Angeles, California and has since expanded to Canada, Barkman said. "It's hard to measure the effectiveness of the program," Barkman said, "but it's well-received by parents, students, teachers and the community in general." Barkman said most kids are exposed to drugs and alcohol at an early age and are vulnerable to experimenting with them, but how much they're at risk varies from child to child. "With the support of everyone involved, we're encouraging youth to make positive choices and staying out of risky situations," Barkman said. A D.A.R.E. program is also being held at St. Ann's Catholic School, with 35 students expected to graduate in December, Barkman said. The essays written by the students prove how important and effective the D.A.R.E. program can be. Student Sam Marleau wrote, "I believe that the D.A.R.E. program, taught to us by our D.A.R.E. officer, is educational and useful to all students. I am now better prepared to resist and avoid encounters with drugs and alcohol. "Being aware of facts, such as tobacco kills 45,000 people in Canada or alcohol can cause depression and lead to heart attacks or comas, is incentive to avoid these substances." Shauna Regner wrote, "Saying no to all these things is a healthy and wise decision. I also learned about peer pressure, when someone your age (peer) pressures you into doing something you don't want to do. "I learned how to say no. There are many ways. You can give the cold shoulder or walk away or just say no. The most important thing that I learned was that I'm worth it to say no to drugs, alcohol and peer pressure." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin