STUDENTS DARED TO REFUSE DRUGS

ALERT BAY -- Eighteen young people graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (DARE) 17-week program at Alert Bay Elementary School, says
Const. Stuart Seib of the Alert Bay RCMP detachment.

Approximately 75 community members showed up for this important day to see
Natalie Hunt, Flora Pagani, Fraser Ullstrom, Kathleen Cook, Jacqueline
Matilpi, Keegan Hamilton, Victor Hanuse, Michael Wong, Stephen Ross, Steven
Smith, Tyler Plensky, Tatum Souch, Adam Dalton, Spruce Rufus, Rebekah
Shroud, Savannah Ranville, Christine Gullstrom and Matthew Joseph graduate.
The students did a skit that demonstrated how if a person is isolated, and
surrounded by such things as alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, heroin, magic
mushrooms and other harmful drugs, he cannot be reached by the helpful
influences such as family, teachers and community members.

It ended with the positive influences teaming up and getting through to the
person and getting him out of the situation. Natalie Hunt read aloud a DARE
essay she wrote.

"My rights say I should be happy and treated with respect. Also my rights
say I should be safe and get an education. My rights are the same as
everyone else's because that is what everyone needs to be happy.

Hunt continued, "Const. Seib has taught us many things. He was a good DARE
teacher. This is why I want to stay drug-free."

Flora Pagani: "We've learned why people get into drugs and alcohol and
gangs. They are usually the people with low self-esteem. I think the DARE
program is awesome. Const. Seib is an awesome DARE teacher. Every week I
look forward to Wednesday, the day we have DARE. Because of the DARE
program, I'm going to make better decisions in the future. Everyone my age
should take the DARE program."

Fraser Ullstrom: "If you stay drug-free, you can stay violence-free. If
people did not have drugs and beer, the world might be a nicer and calmer
place."

Keegan Hamilton: "If you do drugs, you can get very sick. If you don't do
drugs, you will be really happy. You won't lose money, because if you do
drugs, you have to spend money and you can die."

Tatum Souch: "I am very proud I took the DARE program, because I'm 99
percent sure I am not going to do drugs because they can be harmful to me."

"I feel confident the DARE graduates will make it to their graduation,"
Seib said. "It takes an entire community to keep kids safe. Never be afraid
to ask for help."

Seib, who has delivered the DARE program for five years, will move to
Clearwater soon. He was awarded a promotion and will move when a
replacement is found for Alert Bay.