'HOW I GOT MY PARENTS OFF DRUGS'

A primary school pupil related how his parents stopped using drugs
when he took home a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) workbook
and taught them how to resist drugs.

He was among 54 pupils of the Fyzabad Presbyterian Primary School who
graduated at the Morning Star Presbyterian Church, Lum Tack Hill,
Fyzabad Friday .

In an essay the DARE class was asked to write, the pupil said that his
parents had been using drugs and he was worried that when he grew up
he would also become a drug addict. He said that he showed his parents
the workbook and discussed what he had learned in the programme.

"My parents stopped using drugs and I have begun to dream of a better
life," he said.

He said that he was no longer afraid of drugs destroying his
life.

The nine-week course conducted by community police officer PC Cyril
Laing was organised by the Police Service. It explored the dangers of
drug and alcohol abuse, the positive and negative results of peer
pressure and explored skills required to resist alcohol, tobacco and
illegal drugs.

Another pupil wrote that her parents frequented bars causing the
family great embarrassment. She said in her essay that she took home
the workbook and spoke about the DARE programme and was proud to note
that her parents have started to avoid the rumshops.

DARE is an international programme taught in 54 countries. It is
taught by Community Police officers across the country.

Constable Laing said that pupils were taught about making healthy
decisions regarding the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.

"They learned the facts about each drug including its health effects,"
he said adding that the sessions were interactive and allowed
participants to take an active part in discussions by adding their own
observations and experiences.

He said that the programme had prepared the pupils to deal with risky
situations and gave them the confidence to be able to resist the
temptation to use and abuse drugs.

Inspector Enez Joseph of the Penal Police said that she had seen some
of the reports written by the pupils and was happy to note that the
programme had a positive impact on them. She said that children were
curious about drugs and if they were not sensitised to their effect
they might end up victims of substance and drug abuse.