STUDENTS GET MESSAGE IN THE RACE AGAINST DRUGS

Grade 5s From Throughout The Region Participate In Collingwood
Program

By the end of the morning session of Racing Against Drugs at the
Collingwood Curling Club Wednesday, Devon Bradley was smiling, his
eyes shining.

The Grade 5 student from Duntroon Central Public School spent the
morning with her classmates learning about drug and alcohol abuse,
traffic safety, the hazards of smoking, and the importance of living a
healthy lifestyle.

She enjoyed racing the cars, answering questions during the jeopardy
game, and learning about life's lessons in the teepee.

"The choices are bad, make a good choice instead of a bad choice,"
said Bradley. "(And) not to smoke because of what will happen, you'll
get black teeth, heart disease and lung cancer."

Teaching children these lessons during their early years will enable
them to enjoy a healthy and happy lifestyle, said Steve Hardisty,
community services and media relations officer with the Collingwood
OPP detachment.

"This is a time in their life when it's most important for them to
understand the consequences of their actions," he said. "It exposes
them to choices about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. We give them the
facts, so they can make the choices themselves."

Demonstrating the results of making bad choices is very effective with
the Grade 5 students, and during the three days 850 students from all
the elementary schools in the Georgian Triangle area attended the event.

"The lessons taken away from here are reinforced in Grade 6 through
the DARE program," said Hardisty. "Most of them seem very aware of the
consequences of takings drugs, drinking, alcohol and smoking."

Clearly from the responses the students give and the lessons they are
receiving, Racing Against Drugs and the DARE programs are very
effective, he added.

It takes the co-operation of a lot of partners to organize the event,
said Tim Garland, community services and media relations officer with
the Huronia West OPP detachment.

"Racing Against Drugs is an interactive eyes, ears and hands on
program that helps reinforce the importance of healthy and safe
lifestyle choices, to other young people at an age when they are most
impressionable," said Garland.

The students also learn about the importance of wearing seat belts and
the difference between legal and illegal drugs.