D.A.R.E. REINVENTS ITSELF WITH LATEST INFO

D.A.R.E. - Drug Abuse Resistance Education - is a drug abuse prevention
education program designed to equip elementary, middle and high school
students with knowledge about drug abuse, consequences of abuse and
skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol
and tobacco.

It is based on the premise that prevention is the only long-term
answer to drug abuse.

This unique program uses uniformed law enforcement officers to teach a
formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting. DARE provides
accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

DARE officers work with children to raise their self-esteem, teach
them how to make decisions on their own, and help them identify
positive alternatives to drugs.

Through role-playing, the DARE curriculum emphasizes the negative
consequences of drug use, and reinforces the skills to resist peer
pressure and intimidation.

DARE is a cooperative effort by the police, schools, parents, and the
community to help children make the right choices concerning drug use.

Everyone must contribute in a child's life and this is how the real
success will be measured. If one of the components is missing or weak
then the chance of success decreases a =A8and the pressures increase.

Armed with the latest in prevention science and teaching techniques,
DARE is reinventing itself.

The need for an effective education program to inoculate students
against the threat of drugs is critical to the well being of our
children and their future.

Here are some tips for parents:

- - Establish family rules that make it clear that drug use will not be
tolerated.

- - Educate yourself about drugs, so you can talk informatively with
your children and answer their questions.

- - Spend time with your children listening to their concerns and
showing how much you love and care for them.

- - Recognize that you are their most important role
model.

- - Because peer pressure is a major factor in teen drug use, know your
children's friends.

- - Talk with other parents.

- - Try to establish uniform rules that make access to drugs harder,
such as curfew and the amount of spending money they receive. If a
problem exists, get help!

As a DARE officer for the past four years in the Nanaimo school
district, I have seen first hand the value of the program in the lives
of youth.

The program must include the cooperative effort of police, educators,
parents and the community to be a success.

The new DARE program has follow-up into other grades which was a key
missing component. Students will now be exposed to the DARE curriculum
in grades 5, 7 and 9.

* RCMP Const. Beth Blackburn is the drug awareness coordinator for
central Vancouver Island.