Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 Source: Vermilion Standard (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Vermilion Standard Contact: http://www.vermilionstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/776 Author: Jennifer Jacula Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) http://www.vermilionstandard.com/story.php?id=3D146137 DARE PROGRAM GETS A MAKEOVER The DARE program has been a mainstay in Vermilion and area schools in recent history. Vermilion Standard -- The DARE program has been a mainstay in Vermilion and area schools in recent history. The program is unveiling a brand new look that will make it more appealing to kids, utilizing a new workbook format that includes bright colours, a new focus and even a new mascot, DAREN, a lion. Cst. Rob Rubuliak of the Vermilion RCMP detachment works with grade six students at Vermilion Elementary School and St. Jerome's school, teaching about 100 students, while Cst. Chris Smiley visits Innisfree, Mannville and Clandonald and extends the message to a further 45 to 50 students. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, but now the focus of the program is focusing on more than just drug education: the new DARE stands for Define, Assess, Respond, Evaluate and teaches children a decision making model that will help them make good choices throughout their lives. "What I like is that it's more a life skills, lifestyle class than a drug abuse class. Unfortunately the name almost does itself a disservice - 'drug abuse' - because parents always think, 'oh, they're talking about drugs and drug abuse.' 90 per cent of it is applying this decision making model and then scenarios involving cigarettes and alcohol," said Cst. Rubuliak. The scenarios introduce children to situations where they are given a choice and they can make a good choice or a bad choice, and learn the consequences of their choices. Students in the 10 week program are easily able to follow the work book format. "They start figuring it out on their own, crossing off choices based on if it's responsible, respectful and realistic," said Cst. Rubuliak. From there, the workbook moves on to educating about cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. The workbook also includes surveys and percentages, where the students are able to guess the percentage of grade eight students who reported using cigarettes, alcohol or tobacco, and then are given the correct percentage. When it comes to smoking, "they'll guess forty, fifty and the reality is 10.2 from the latest survey. What does that tell them? Their perception is that more kids smoke than actually do smoke and the reality is less," said Cst. Rubuliak. The lesson is repeated for alcohol and marijuana. "Giving kids a decision making model and life skills is way more important than educating them about 'here's marijuana, here's what cocaine is,' we do a little bit of that, but educating them on how bad it is doesn't teach them anything, but saying what influences you (peer pressure, media), understanding alcohol ads versus the realities of alcohol. We do a whole media section," said Cst. Rubuliak. The students are able to take part in creative exercises like writing their own cigarette warning labels as part of the program. "We don't take sides. We say here's the model, here's the facts we want you to apply to make the right choices," said Cst. Rubuliak. A common question Cst. Rubuliak receives during the DARE program is regarding medical marijuana, something approved for use in Canada with a prescription. "There's only been 210 or 220 licenses granted for medical marijuana in Canada. They skew the medical marijuana, that it helps. There's no medical evidence that it helps," said Cst. Rubuliak. Another common misconception is the difference between decriminalizing marijuana and legalizing marijuana. "I have to explain to kids in DARE that decriminalizing and legalizing are two different things," said Cst. Rubuliak, who explains that offenders still go to court and get convicted and will be fingerprinted. "I have to go and kind of deprogram all of this crap that they hear. We do a lot of fact versus fiction," said Cst. Rubuliak. Cst. Rubuliak has a daughter in grade six and that makes him even more passionate about the DARE program. "I really love the program. I was one of the people that was a doubter. All I knew was this stupid acronym - drug abuse resistance - what are they talking about, drug abuse in grade six? But it's got nothing to do with that. It's lifestyle, it's skills, it's peer pressure, it's consequences, it's building up self esteem, it's giving them ways to be in charge. We're empowering the grade sixes. They're in charge of their decisions. They're in charge of their life," said Cst. Rubuliak. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek