Pubdate: Sun, 22 May 2005
Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU)
Copyright: 2005 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Author: Tammy Anderson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

WAYS TO SAY "NO"

"Just say 'no' to drugs" is a phrase many youths have heard, but does
it really work?

Drug abuse is a prevalent problem in Guam's schools, said Sgt. Arthur
Paulino, head of the Guam Police Department's Juvenile Investigation
Section. He noted in a recent survey that 96 percent of high school
seniors have used drugs, and 76 percent of all high school students
have used marijuana.

The probability of a high school student being approached and asked to
use drugs is high, but there are teens who have handled offers of
drugs with the right answer.

Sgt. Paulino remembers continually being asked if he wanted to try
marijuana when he rode the bus to school as a youth.

"Sometimes they even blew smoke in my face," he said. But he didn't
cave in. And now he works with youths in the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program, or DARE, to help them say no to drugs, as well as
teach other kids to stay tough against substance abuse.

The DARE program offers educational presentations for students across
the island. One of the lessons they are taught include the different
ways people respond to offers of illegal drugs, based on their
personality: passive, aggressive or assertive.

When asked if they want to try drugs, people who are passive
responders typically cave in and agree, even if they don't want to,
Paulino said.

"If you are passive you will be a target," he said.

Those categorized as aggressive responders might yell or physically
harm the person who offered the drugs.

"If you are aggressive, the consequences could get you into trouble
because you are not respecting the other person's rights," he said.

He advises teens to be assertive -- confidently speaking your mind and
still respecting the rights of the other person.

"Have confidence in yourself," he said. Gaining and developing that
confidence can be achieved by joining a club or sports activity.

"Find an activity that makes you feel good, like basketball, music or
cross country," he said.

Joining an organization or a sports team will bring you into positive
interaction with healthy influences, Paulino said.

'Weigh Your Options'

Dawn Cruz, who has been a substance abuse prevention specialist at
Sanctuary for six years, agreed with Paulino.

And though it may seem that more youths are getting involved in drugs,
"there are more kids out there than you would think who are
drug-free," she said.

Staying away from areas where drug users hang out can help you avoid
negative peer pressure. And peer pressure is not so easy to get over
for adolescents, when they are trying to fit in with the "cool" crowd.

But Cruz said youths must think hard about the different problems and
scenarios that could occur if they were to give into drugs.

"Weigh your options," she said. "Think about the consequences of each
action."

Cruz also urged youths to consider their future.

"What are your goals?" Cruz asked. "Is experimenting with drugs going
to get me where I want to go?"

If you have a passive personality and find yourself being offered
drugs, Cruz said teens can resort to humor to get away from the
situation or try changing the topic.

She also suggested joining the Youth Embracing Sanctuary Crew, which
is open to youths ages 11 to 24, whether they have used drugs in the
past or not. Members of the group make a promise to remain drug-free
and focus on learning leadership and mentoring skills.
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