DRUG: AWARENESS PROGRAM ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED

Const. David Skretting got a warm welcome from an enthusiastic group
of Grade 6 students at Poplar Glade elementary Friday for the last
session in the nine-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
program he conducted at the school.

Judging by the attentiveness of the students, and the number of hands
being thrown in the air to answer Skretting's review questions, the
program seems to have made a lasting impression on these students
about the harm that can befall them if they use and abuse drugs and alcohol.

Skretting asked the students questions such as why is marijuana harmful.

The students came back with all the right answers. One girl said it
harms young people more than adults because their bodies are still
growing. Another said it causes short term memory loss, which
Skretting reiterated can interfere with a student's ability to study
and take exams. Another student said it can cause lung damage.

Students also repeated a couple of the role play situations they had
practiced to learn how to be assertive about their decision not to do
drugs or alcohol, or do mean things to other people.

In one role play students were in the cafeteria lineup when one
student started pressuring the other to give him his lunch money.
Instead of just saying no, the student being badgered just kept
saying "no I won't give you the money but I will share my lunch with you."

In another role play, one student practiced saying no when his peers
pressured him to ring the doorbell of an old lady then run way.

Another role play involved learning how to cut off correspondence on
the Internet when someone is pressuring you, by simply pressing the
escape button to terminate the correspondence.

Skretting also asked some review questions about inhalant drugs, the
effects of drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking on health. Several
students came back with different answers.

On the topic of alcohol one student said: It kills brain cells.
Another said alcohol affects your coordination. And another student
said it damages your liver.

Before the session started a few of the boys were discussing a
television news report one of them had seen on television the night
before about a crystal meth amphetamine addict and his wild behaviour
while driving a stolen car.

With certain inhalants, and other drugs, even one time use can cause
death for some people, Skretting reminded the students.

Not all of the sessions were about drugs and alcohol.

During the sessions students also played games related to developing
healthy lifestyles and finding fun activities they can enjoy without
the use of alcohol or drugs.

"So you all have the skills to do other things than drugs when you go
to high school," said Skretting.

He left them with the DARE workbook and a little plastic card with
eight ways students can be in charge of their own lives.

Toward the end of the session several students asked to make
"statements" rather than ask questions. "You're cool," said one
student. "I enjoyed it," said another about the DARE course.

Skretting was asked if there was a DARE program in high school. He
said there was and he hopes to receive training to deliver that program.

At the end of the session Skretting presented each of the students
with a graduation certificate and the students presented him with a
dream catcher.