Pubdate: Mon, 18 Dec 2006
Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.intelligencer.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332
Author: Bruce Bell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS SAY NO TO DRUGS

PICTON - There are now 153 more Grade 6 students in Prince Edward 
County who wouldn't DARE touch drugs.

Students from four elementary schools in the municipality attended a 
graduation ceremony at Prince Edward Collegiate Friday, after 
completing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program this fall.

Led by Const. Kim Guthrie, the community service officer for the 
Prince Edward Ontario Provincial Police detachment, students learned 
about the perils of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Guthrie said she was overwhelmed by the students' response to the 
program during the initial sessions.

"The kids really seemed to love the program and I am overjoyed that 
they took so much more from it than I ever thought they would," she 
said during a luncheon preceding the awarding of certificates. "They 
were so eager to learn and every one of them participated so willingly."

Over a 10-week period, Guthrie, along with program mascot Daren, an 
11-year-old stuffed lion symbolizing strength and courage, visited 
each classroom weekly delivering her message. Students from Kente, 
Massassaga-Rednersville, Pinecrest Memorial and Queen Elizabeth in 
Picton participated while four different Prince Edward schools will 
begin the sessions after Christmas.

The program was established by the Los Angeles Police Department and 
the city's school board in 1984. Guthrie had to undergo an intensive 
two-week training session in Aylmer to obtain certification to become 
a DARE officer.

Students in Prince Edward County are the first in the Quinte region 
to use the program.

During Friday's ceremony, two students from each participating class 
read their final reports.

Tailer Thompson, a Grade 6 student at Pinecrest Memorial, pledged to 
never smoke, do drugs or drink alcohol before he was 19. He also said 
DARE taught him how to avoid trouble.

"We are getting to the age where people might tell us they don't want 
to be our friend if we don't do what they want us to, but we learned 
if they are our real friend, they won't treat us like that," he said. 
"Const. Guthrie taught us that there is strength in numbers and you 
can always just walk away from people like that."

Sydnee Mulridge, one of 39 Queen Elizabeth students to complete the 
program, also said she is not afraid to say no.

"Const. Guthrie taught us how to deal with people who might offer us 
drugs and if you just say no - it's cool," she said. "I think one of 
the most important things she taught us is that it's a lot easier to 
stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble."

For the Prince Edward students, DARE replaced the VIP program which 
still runs at a number of other schools in the Hastings and Prince 
Edward District School Board.

Superintendent of Instruction David Fox attended Friday's ceremony 
and said the program could make its way into other school groups in the future.

"I know Const. Guthrie went through extensive training in order to 
get certified to be a DARE instructor and the problem is we have 
eight police forces in our board area," he said. "You have to have 
someone who is qualified to run the program and from what I am 
hearing about it, we would certainly entertain the idea of expanding 
it to other areas - we just can't do it alone."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman