SAYING 'NO' TO DRUGS

Ashley Murdoch has made a lifetime pledge to remain drug free.

The 12-year-old Grade 6 student at Deer Lake Elementary School was one of 88
students who participated in the RCMP's Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) program.

"DARE is a learning adventure that keeps us aware and tells us the
importance of resisting drugs and violence," Ashley wrote in her essay she
read aloud during a school assembly held June 20, at the conclusion of the
17-week program.

The program explained to the students about drugs, risks, peer pressure and
about self-esteem, she said, expressing the consequences to smoking,
drinking and drugs, both prescription and non-prescription.

"To make this excellent activity more realistic, we got to show off our
acting skills by playing games and making up skits," Ashley said. "So, we
now have the experience when we really do have to say no.

"I think taking the DARE challenge is something I will never regret doing,"
the elementary student added. "I think it is so important to be drug free
and avoid violence."

"Now I know it is true, when you buy drugs, you waste your money; but when
you take drugs, you waste your life."

DARE is a collaborative effort by certified law enforcement officers,
educators, students, parents and the community, according to RCMP Corp.
Scott Morrison, who along with Const. Wayne Nichols taught the program to
the students.

It offers a variety of interactive, group participation, co-operative
learning activities which are designed to encourage students to solve
problems of major importance in their lives.

"The emphasis of the program is to help students recognize and resist the
many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants or other drugs or to engage in
violence," he explained.

Const. Nichols praised the students on the work and commitment they gave to
the program.

"Remember, if there is one thing to remember -- one message -- to take with
you about the DARE program, its that you have the power to say no," he told
the assembly of students, parents and teachers.

Student participation in the DARE program may be incorporated as an integral
part of the school's curriculum offering in health, science, social studies,
language arts, or other subject(s) as appropriate.

School principal Doug Francis praised the program and what it brought into
the school's health curriculum.

"It enhanced our program, but went a lot further than the book as it taught
you about responsibility, especially that of how to make choices," said Mr.
Francis.

"The DARE program is more than text alone could do. As participants, the
program taught the students a lot particularly, assisting them as they grow
into teens, and then adults, he said.

"There is a positive spin-off," said Mr. Francis to the gathering of
students. "We see people like Corp. Morrison and Const. Nichols in a
different light."

Now, he said the students know the RCMP officers as protectors with an
interest in young people -- they know the kids by name -- its good public
relations.

"That is the spinoff, the dividend, of the program."

As a graduate of the program, each student received a certificate, a pin and
a DARE t-shirt.