KASLO SCHOOL GETS DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE PROGRAM

A Kaslo school will be the first in the region to get a new RCMP
anti-drug program.

J.V. Humphries will hopefully pilot the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance)
program with Grades 5 and 6 this year, principal George Lord told the
school board Tuesday.

"The age of startup is now between 10 and 12 for most substances,"
Lord said, explaining why the program - which is available for every
age from kindergarten to Grade 12 - will target that age range at J.V.
Humphries.

Under the program, the school will pay for an RCMP member to travel to
Prince George for training. The local officer will then spend
approximately 15 hours teaching 17 sessions to the children, visiting
the classroom in uniform.

The estimated $3,000 cost for travel and accommodations has been
raised by community members who want to get the program started.

"The community group has done basically all the fund-raising that's
required," Lord said.

The RCMP will pay the officer his regular wages while he is
participating in DARE.

While there is a group in Kaslo that is very supportive of the
initiative, there are some opposed to the program, Lord admitted.

"The group that was very strongly opposed were a group that has their
own agenda," he said, explaining that they want marijuana legalized.

Only a dozen parents attended an information session last week and
half of those were pro-marijuana activists, he said.

However, the school thinks the program is worthwhile, Lord
stated.

"We want to proceed," he said.

The RCMP is trying to start DARE training for officers in southern
B.C. at Nelson 10th Street campus, according to Lord.

Before this year police had to travel to Edmonton for DARE training,
he said.