STUDENTS DARE TO RESIST DRUGS AND VIOLENCE

For every choice, there are consequences, good or bad.

It's one of the cornerstones of a school-based program called DARE, or
Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

"This program is not intended to give students all the answers; it
tells them if they make a choice, there's going to be consequences,"
said Ontario Provincial Police Constable Beth Ethier, the Community
Services Officer who taught DARE this year in five Renfrew County
schools, including Herman Street Public School and Pine View in
Petawawa. "It teaches them that they have the power and gives them the
tools to make the right choices, the right decisions." Taught at grade
schools across Canada and the United States, the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program was introduced to Renfrew County schools in 2001.
The program is broken down into 17, hour-long lessons covering topics
like bullying, gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure,
and different ways to say no.

At the program wrap-up at Pine View Public School last week, four
students read essays explaining their own personal reasons for staying
drug and violence-fre. "I'd never be happy again, as long as I did
drugs," said Dustin Gibson. "Drugs can lead to a lot of diseases, or
even kill you. And the worst part is you can get addicted.

"Drugs are almost as bad as poison." Melissa Froment shared her
thoughts on the adverse affects of drugs, alcohol and violence on
education, employment and family life.

Addiction leads to loss, she explained - loss of friends, health,
money and trust. "Eventually, you won't be able to pay for the things
in life that really count," she said. "Staying drug and violence free
should be one of the most important things to kids because their
future depends on it."

Student essays, noted Const Ethier, are a good indicator that lessons
taught were lessons learned.

"It makes me feel good when I hear those essays cover all the things
we've talked about in class," she said. "I really hope its made a
difference for everyone."

Students also performed short skits about choices and consequences,
and the different ways to say no to drugs and alcohol.

"The skills that students have learned with the DARE program are
skills they will hopefully use in their future, and for the rest of
their lives," noted Const Ethier.

The program, she added, also builds trust between police and local
youth. "It lets them know that any time they need help, or if they
need to talk to someone, we're there for them."

As DARE graduates, each student from the grade 6/7 split class
received a certificate, a ribbon and a t-shirt, mementos made possible
through financial donations by the Pembroke Petawawa Lions Club and
the Greater Petawawa Civitan Club.

Special guests from the Pembroke Petawawa Lions Club Larry and Jackie
Black, were also in attendance.