TEENS PASS ON ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE TO GRADE SIXERS

Local News - COLLINGWOOD - It's OK to say no to drugs.

That's the message four Jean Vanier students were trying to teach Grade 6
students at St. Mary's school on Thursday afternoon.

The Grade 12 students Nathan Ferraro, Matt Curtis, Stephanie Bracken, and
Sarah Draper were chosen by the chaplain at Jean Vanier to participate in
the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.).

This part of the program is to show the Grade 6 students that it's okay to
say no to drugs.

"(The Grade 12 students) are brought in to be a positive role model," said
Karen Viragh, senior constable, school liaison officer with the
Collingwood/Blue Mountains OPP.

To take part in the program, the older students have to be drug, alcohol and
tobacco free.

"They talk about what they've experienced in high school," she said. "The
kids have an opportunity to ask all sorts of questions." The presentations
last about 40 minutes.

During the presentation, the children asked what would happen if they got
caught by the principal with drugs. Another child asked why these students
decided not to do drugs.

Another boy asked if he would get beat up if he said no to drugs.

Ferraro said a lot of the Grade 6 students want to know how to say no. He
tries to show the students that peer pressure isn't as bad as it seems on
TV.

Draper said she tells the students people usually respect her decision to
say no to drugs.

Bracken said the program is a good way to teach the younger students about
drugs, because there isn't as much of an age difference as there would be
with parents, teachers or police officers.

The Grade 12 students also told the Grade 6 class about getting involved in
school activities instead of drugs and alcohol.