DEALING WITH PRESSURES OF DRUGS

Students at Sparwood's elementary schools are getting a full dose of the
negative consequences of drug use during the fourth week of instruction of
the DARE program.

RCMP Constable Wally Bursey, who introduced the program at both elementary
schools in early January, said the focus of instruction last week rested
with various forms of pressure young children are exposed to.

As part of the lesson, Bursey said there are four major sources of pressure
young people have to deal with, including personal, family, media and peer
pressure. An understanding of each helps to enable children to say no to
drugs and violence.

As well, he focused on the four types of peer pressure which encompasses
pressure which has the quality of coming off as friendly to a child, teasing
as an enabler to convince someone into doing something, indirect or pressure
which is tempting and heavy pressure.

"That's like: 'Come on'. 'You're going to drink' or 'I'm not going to be
your friend'," Bursey said.

He says the specific focus of the lesson is on the various ways in which
peers can have an extremely powerful influence on one another to engage in
destructive behaviour.

The children, he added, are being encouraged to come up with their own ways
of resisting various forms of pressure from peers.

Results of a national survey on alcohol use among teenagers were also shared
with classes, results showing most young people do not use alcohol.

As with each week of this 17 week program, a newsletter was distributed to
parents in an on-going effort to stimulate communication on the topics of
drug abuse and violence.

MINER DETAILS

Guidelines for talking with your child about drugs:

Learn about alcohol and drugs and their effects so your child will realize
you know what you're talking about.

Try to agree with your spouse on how to handle the issue of drug and alcohol
use.

Set rules for young people concerning drug and alcohol use, even if you
think he or she is not involved with drugs.

Be aware the behaviour you expect from your child may be different from what
the parents of his or her friends expect.

If you suspect drug or alcohol use, do not accuse the child. He or she will
most likely deny it.

Try to keep in touch with your child's teachers.

Get to know your child's friends and their parents.

Don't be afraid to get professional help.

Source: DARE program material based on guidelines developed by the National
Federation of Parents For Drug-Free Youth.