THEY'VE GOT NINE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SAY 'NO' - AND THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.

Grade 5 students at Dallas elementary graduated Wednesday from the
10-week RCMP Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

The program fosters relationships between youth and the RCMP and
introduces students to factual information about drugs designed to
allow them to make healthy decisions.

"And it gives them the confidence to stay in charge of a risky
situation," said Const. Kate Bamber of the Kamloops RCMP.

Students are taken through a distinct lesson plan teaching them about
drugs and alcohol and their effects.

They are taught the DARE decision-making model and nine ways to be in
charge of a risky situation, which help students use body language to
say 'no' and make confident decisions.

"I figure it's going to help me a lot because of all the ways we
learn to resist peer pressure," said student Cameron Phillips. "So if
you get into a situation, you know what to do and won't freak out and
do the drugs."

Schoolmate Morgan Grooms agreed, adding, "I learned that it takes a
whole community to stop someone from doing drugs."

Some students participated in a skit that illustrated how to get help
if someone they know is using drugs.

It showed students asking their parents, teachers, police and their
friends for help.

"I didn't exactly know what I know now," said student Sarah Keppler,
noting that the prevention techniques she learned in the DARE program
have made her more confident.

"They're going to help me because if someone does use peer pressure,
then I'll know what to say and I'll know how to avoid it."

All participants wrote a letter to themselves as a reminder of what
they learned, and to share with their friends and family.

"Now I think I have the courage to tell my aunt not to smoke around
me," said student Danielle Drummond.

Bamber said the DARE program is a good way for parents to open
discussion with their children about risky situations.

"Some parents have a hard time with starting to talk to their kids
about drugs and alcohol and this helps open the discussion," she
said. Not all schools are eligible to participate in the program, and
to those children not afforded the opportunity, Bamber has some advice.

"Make healthy, positive choices about drugs and risky situations and
just enjoy your life and be involved in positive activities and have
fun. "You can have fun without drugs, especially in a community like
Kamloops where there's so many fun things to do."

Bamber, who has worked with the DARE program in Kamloops schools for
the past six years, is being transferred this summer to Golden.