LEARNING TO SAY NO

Orillia OPP Officers Educate Students On Dangers Of Drugs

Allison Barker came home from school one day and told her mother she
had to do a project on heroin.

At first, Susan Barker was taken aback, wondering why her 12-year-old
daughter would choose such a frightening topic.

Then she realized it was part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) program, from which all Grade 6 students across Orillia and
surrounding area will graduate this month.

"It's certainly generated conversations about drugs," said Barker,
who sat in the audience at Couchiching Heights Public School
yesterday afternoon watching her daughter graduate.

The 35 students will join about 800 around Orillia and Severn and
Ramara townships who have completed the 10-session program
facilitated by local OPP officers.

Const. Sean McTeague taught at Couchiching Heights.

"We've talked about subjects like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana," he
said. "We also talk about confidence and the ability to make
decisions. Sometimes, it takes a little courage to say no."

The students watch videos, learn a decision-making process and, at
the end of the program, submit a DARE report about what they learned.

Four students were selected to read their reports to the graduating class.

"I've learned to say no to drugs. They may look good, but they can
kill you," Nick Vennard read aloud.

"During the class, we were educated more on drugs like ecstasy and
crystal meth. I had no idea they looked so much like candy," Jordynne
Hislop wrote in her report.

"People who smoke and take drugs hurt themselves and the people
around them," Courtney Hodgkinson told the group.

"The DARE program had a really big impact on me because, if I hadn't
learned this now, something horrible might have happened," said Dakota Howard.

Each student received a handbook, a keychain and a certificate of completion.

The four DARE report finalists received a medal. They will be judged
against all other finalists from around the region, one of whom will
win a new computer.