YOUTH PRESS - DARE TO SAY NO TO PEER PRESSURE

The Rockville Police Department offers its DARE (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) program to city schools as part of an effort to
discuss the negative impacts that drugs, alcohol and tobacco can play
on the lives of young people. As part of the course, the students
write essays on what they learned and why they think drugs, alcohol
and tobacco would be harmful to them. Two winning essays from Meadow
Hall Elementary School, which graduated more than 50 fifth-graders
from the DARE program in December, are below. The youngsters won a
stuffed DAREn the Lion, the mascot for the program. The traditional
DARE program had not been taught by Rockville police officers for
four years. In that time, DARE revised its approach and curriculum
and officers Nikki Hawkins and Jan Seilhamer were trained in the new
course. Twinbrook Elementary was the first to benefit from the new
program in the fall, and Meadow Hall was the second. Other schools
will join the program this ye! ar.

'I really noticed a change in myself'

When my class first started DARE, I thought it would be boring. I
came not knowing much about drugs, but now I am leaving with all the
facts and all the information.

I learned that smoking cigarettes puts you at a very high risk of
being sick or even dying. Since smoking is very bad for your body, I
am very proud of my mom because she hasn't smoked in three weeks.
Ever since I informed her about DARE, she has been wanting to quit.

Officer Nikki (Hawkins) has taught me a lot, such as making the right
choices. I think that when I get older I will remember what she
taught me and use it throughout my life. I hope all of my friends,
such as Lily, Kristyn and Taiti, will make the right choices to not
do drugs.

I noticed that pretty soon I will be going to middle school and get
peer pressured. I really noticed a change in myself since DARE has
occurred. Office Nikki did a great job helping the fifth grade make
the right choices and prepare for these situations. If the fifth
grade could experience DARE again, I think I would want to because
Officer Nikki makes learning so much fun!

Some other facts that I learned at that marijuana is illegal in the
U.S. and that it is illegal to drink alcohol if you are under the age
of 21. I learned that nine out of 100 teenagers tried smoking in the
pat 30 days. That means that 91 percent of the teenagers made the
right choice. If you look on a cigarette box, you will see a surgeon
general warning. Some examples of these warnings are: "Warning, this
product may cause gum disease and tooth loss," or "Warning, this
product may cause mouth disease."

The reasons why surgeon generals put this label on cigarette boxes is
to tell you what smoking may do to you. The reason why I do not want
to drink or smoke is because I want to stay happy and healthy like
Officer Nikki.

'I knew how to make good choices'

I, Isaac Recio, from Meadow Hall, learned facts about alcohol,
tobacco and marijuana. All those things have one thing in common:
they all can kill you.

After one week learning about all those things, I learned that
alcohol can give you loss of self control, get you drunk and could
eventually lead to death.

On Monday, first day of diary, I knew how to make good choices and
how we should stay away from people who smoke because second-hand
smoke is as dangerous as smoking itself.

Tuesday, I learned what is illegal. You have to be 18 to buy tobacco
and 21 to drink alcohol.

Wednesday, I learned the dangers of drinking, like getting drunk,
which makes you crazy.

Smoking can give you cancer, so if you do not want to end up drunk,
having cancer or with bad breath, make good choices - if you want to
play sports or live a long, healthy life.