D.A.R.E. GRADUATES TELL BENEFITS OF ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM

PARAGOULD -- The sixth grade class of Oak Grove Middle School may not be
finished with school this semester, but they've already had one graduation.

On Friday, the class of 218 students officially graduated from the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education program.

Mike Carter, principal at OGMS Middle School, noted his support of the
program, as it allows students to familiarize themselves with local law
enforcement officers and learn the dangers of drug abuse.

The 10-week program, which was taught by Cpl. Ryan Shrable, of the Paragould
Police Department, aimed to educate students of the ills of drug abuse and
violent behavior.

"The students have learned first hand the downfalls of violence and how
using drugs and being involved in violence is a choice each of them has,"
Carter said. "Hopefully, they'll make the right choice after learning more
about drugs and violence through this program."

Shrable, who has been a D.A.R.E. instructor for six years, said the benefits
of the program are almost immeasurable and that he believes it has a
positive impact on the youth of Greene County.

"They benefit in the aspect that they learn ways to cope with the pressures
of taking drugs," Shrable said.

Shrable stated that students learn not only of the harmful effects of drug
abuse, but also to identify different pressures from peers, the media and
themselves that may try to entice drug use.

"We try to dispel the myth that everyone is using drugs, when a majority of
people are not," Shrable said.

While not everyone uses drugs and alcohol, it was apparent from several
papers written by the OGMS students that many of them have been touched by
their negative effects.

One paper details the death of the writer's sister.

"My sister's husband, my brother-in-law, had been under the influence of
alcohol. We both knew. Then he pulled out his gun and just started shooting
into the air like a crazy man," the paper related. "That's when I found out
that alcohol doesn't just hurt the person drinking it, it can hurt others ..
I promise that drugs will never play a role in my life in any way. This
promise is dedicated to my sister ... I love you so much, and I promise to
always stay away from drugs, tobacco and especially alcohol."

Another student wrote, "Having D.A.R.E in schools is one of the best things
there has ever been."

Another stated "Someone I know used to be my role model until they were
arrested in a drug bust."

One student stated his support for the program by writing, "I am around
people who smoke a lot, so sometimes I get urges. I feel that D.A.R.E. is an
important part of every school, because it taught me to fight the urges by
thinking of the harmful effects."

This year, nine students -- one from each of the sixth grade homerooms --
were recognized for the essays they wrote on the subject of "what I have
learned from participating in the D.A.R.E. program."

Cody Martin claimed the first place essay, while Kelsey Wooten, Adam Norman
and Josh Duerr finished out the top four.

Jonna Clark, Hannah Wilmoth, Alexandria Hunt, Shawn Morgan and Naomi Purcell
were also recognized for their papers. According to Carter, the program is
slated to include fifth-grade students for the first time next year.

D.A.R.E., which has traditionally been a program aimed toward sixth-grade
students, will begin featuring separate curriculums for the fifth and sixth
grades next year.

According to Carter, the curriculum, which has been taught to sixth graders
in the past, will now be taught on the fifth-grade level, while curriculum
reserved for students in seventh and eighth grades will now be taught to
sixth graders. Carter intends for the sixth grade D.A.R.E. program to be
taught during the first semester, while the fifth graders will be introduced
to D.A.R.E. during the second semester.