49 MORE KIDS DARE AWARE

Another group of students have learned how to make healthy choices
around drugs and alcohol.

Forty-nine Grade 6 students at Chemainus Elementary School graduated
from the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program late last month.

In a well-attended ceremony, each student was handed a certificate and
t-shirt by Const. Darren Lagan, of North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.

Lagan conducted the 10-week DARE program where students learned the
hazards of smoking, using drugs and alcohol, as well as strategies for
dealing with peer pressure.

Four students read from essay they had written describing what they
had learned.

"DARE teaches you about bad choices about smoking, drugs and alcohol,"
said Hamish Knadle. "You learn about peer pressure and many ways to
get out of a situation."

"DARE was a great experience. You learn all the important information.
Even though some drugs help, abusing them doesn't," said Daniella Loscerbo.

DARE is taught in six schools in the North Cowichan district and there
are plans to increase that number, as more officers are trained to
deliver the program.

"DARE is the number one RCMP drug prevention initiative in BC," said
Corporal Garth Cunningham, Island Coordinator for DARE, who attended
the ceremony.

He said this year over 21,000 British Columbia students participated
in the program.