PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES

Choices Have Consequences And The Opp Want Children Making The Right Choices.

This was the message delivered to 43 Grade 6 students at Rockwood
Public School by Const. Beth Ethier of the Upper Ottawa Valley
Detachment of the OPP through the DARE Program.

DARE is an acronym for both Drug Abuse Resistance Education and also
Define, Assess, Respond and Evaluate.

The program seeks, through preventative education, to provide
children with alternatives to substance abuse and succumbing to peer pressure.

"We cover lots of different topics that young people are faced with
these days," Const. Ethier said. "I think it's a good idea to give
them some information and a heads up before they head off to high school."

The program lasts nine weeks with the 10th week being a special
graduation ceremony. That ceremony was held recently at Rockwood.

Through sponsorship from the Kiwanis Club of Pembroke, each
participating student receives a program workbook and, on graduation
day, a T-shirt and certificate.

This year, Const. Ethier has offered the program in seven schools in
her jurisdiction from Chalk River to Westmeath.

"DARE is a good program also in that it gives me time to build
relationships with the students,"

Const. Ethier said. "We talk about the three most common drugs,
alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and their affect on you legally,
socially and on your health. We also talk about various ways to say no."

Peer pressure is another focus of the program. Const. Ethier said she
talks about friendship and ways of dealing with the pressure friends
can put on each other to try something.

Some of the teaching methods include role playing these types of
situations. The students are also required to write an essay.

"I think DARE is worthwhile. There's lots of valuable information
that the students learn and keep on using," Const. Ethier said.

DARE originated in Los Angeles, California in 1983 and has since
expanded to more than 50 countries around the world.