DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Unfortunately statistics are showing that children are getting exposed to
drugs and alcohol a lot younger than they used to.

This can lead to life long issues for the abuser, their family and the
community.

To help prevent drugs and alcohol from getting a foothold, the Olds RCMP
are taking a new approach.

Const. Pat Chornoby, Const. Cindee Moore and Const. Ken Beard will be
targeting middle school students with the DARE program.

DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a 17 week program aimed at
giving children the skills to say no to drugs.

Chornoby says the program teaches kids how to be assertive, equipping them
with life skills to be applied in all areas of their life.

The program also talks about peer pressure and how not to give in.

DARE is geared toward making kids aware of situations where they may be
exposed to drugs or alcohol and prepares them to say no.

Specifically designed for 11-year olds, DARE will be offered to some of the
grade six students at Deer Meadow school.

As this is the first year for the program, Chornoby says it will probably
only be offered to one of the grade six classes.

Each session is one hour long and is done on a volunteer basis by the
officers. Even if it's their regular day off, officers are expected to show
up for the classes.

DARE incorporates the use of videos, workbook exercises, discussions and
role-playing to help equip kids with the skills to safely get out of sticky
situations.

Sometimes the biggest problem for kids is not knowing what to say or how to
react when offered drugs or alcohol. The role-playing segment of the
program is geared toward exposing kids to situations and getting them to
practice what to say.

DARE doesn't just focus on illegal drugs, such as marijuana, it also deals
with issues such as smoking.

According to research done by the Journal of the National Medical
Association (in the U.S.), DARE students are five times less likely to
start smoking compared to those who have not participated in the program.

Information published on www.DARE.com states, "The curriculum focuses on
developing and extending students' capacities to:

"1) Understand the nature of and risks associated with alcohol, drug,
tobacco and inhalant use; "2) Examine and understand their own beliefs
related to alcohol, drug, tobacco and inhalant use and consequences; "3)
Communicate clearly and interact positively in social and interpersonal
situations; "4) Develop and use assertiveness/refusal skills; "5)
Recognize, defuse and avoid potentially violent situations; and "6) Make
positive quality of life decisions."

DARE started in 1983 in Los Angeles to help teach children about the
dangers of drugs. In the last 19 years, DARE has spread throughout the
entire U.S. and to 53 other countries.

For more information on the DARE program feel free to call Chornoby, Moore
or Beard at the Olds RCMP, 556-3324. You can also check out www.DARE.com.
The website has information about the program, helpful information for
parents and stuff for kids.