DARE PROGRAM VISITS CASTLEGAR ROTARY CLUB

"One is not forced by threatening bullies into doing drugs'; one is talked
into it by soft-spoken friends. And it does not begin in high school or
college but in elementary school in grades five and six."

With these opening words to a Castlegar rotary club meeting, Castlegar's
Cst. Tony Holland had the full attention of his listeners as he spoke about
the pervasive use of drugs in Castlegar and a revolutionary new prevention
program called DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

The DARE program concept is based on the old saying, "As the twig is bent
the tree's inclined" (Alexander Pope) or perhaps the biblical proverb:
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not
depart from it."

In any case it was initiated in 1980 by a Los Angeles police chief whose
son had been arrested on a drug charge. Recognizing the futility of drug
education programs for older youth whose patterns where already set, he
hired a group of experts to devise an education program for school children
at the age or entry - grades five and six.

With support of specially trained police officers, educational authorities
and schools, the resultant DARE program became an instant success, spread
rapidly across the United States and Canada, and is now taught in 56
different countries. Police officers wishing to teach the program take a
two-week instructor's training course and can then offer it in the schools.
Since the arrangement is voluntary and agreement was made between SD #20,
RCMP and school administration to have Constable Holland come to local
grade five and six students to give the 17-lesson program.

Moreover, because he is a "third generation Nelson boy" with considerable
experience in the RCMP, he takes a special interest in children of this
area. After graduating from LV Rogers High School he joined the force in
1981 and was posted to Thompson, Manitoba. This was followed by a
three-year tour of duty with the famous RCMP Musical Ride, headquartered in
Ottawa. His third posting took him to Surrey of which he said with grin,
"After you survived Surrey you could go anywhere."

"The one man detachment in Telegraph Creek," he said, "was a complete
opposite to Surrey. Full of history and frozen in time, it was like living
in an old Wild West movie."

The farming community of Salmon Arm and two horses followed and then, in
1997, came the choice of a posting to Nelson or Castlegar. The Hollands
chose Castlegar and settled here with two horses and three dogs, and
Holland became deeply involved as a volunteer both in the DARE and in the
Air Cadet Squadron where he has been working with fire chief Gerry Rempel
and Ginny Brown.

However, the DARE program, which he describes as "a labour of love", is
still obviously his first choice, perhaps based on his experiences elsewhere.

One of the main objectives of the program is "street proofing" children in
the ways to say "no" to tobacco and alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, (all of
which are readily available in Castlegar), as well as the less frequently
used heroin and the new and increasingly used but devastating meth amphetamine.

At the same time, through a variety of fun exercises examples and role
playing, children learn to respect one another as well as attain a
justifiable self-esteem in themselves. Such lessons not only increase the
sense of social responsibility but have a spin-off effect in greatly
reduced bullying, vandalism and gang associations.

The final lesson in the program is given by the DARE peer counseling group
- - senior students who have chosen to avoid tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
and who are active volunteers in the community.

"They are vibrant young people and their presentation is unbelievable. They
offer the best possible alternative role models for the children," said
Holland.

Two special features of the program should be mentioned. One is the DARE
question mail box, the other DARE Graduation.

Children use the mail box to post anonymous questions. Then at the
beginning of each lesson, Holland opens the box and attempts to answer the
queries - not always an easy task, but a great way to establish a free and
informal exchange of information and ideas," he said.

Graduation, which requires a written essay, combines both formality and
fun, and is significant to the success of the program in terms of personal
achievement. Having earlier explained to the class that the red serge
uniform is worn only on most important occasions, the officer-instructor,
accompanied by teachers and special guests, appears for the first time in
his full formal dress.

Children are presented with certificates and black DARE t-shirts, followed
by refreshments provided by local businesses such as Safeway, A&W, Dairy
Queen and MacDonalds.

Since DARE is a volunteer, non-profit organization it depends on donations
for expenses of class supplies, certificates, t-shirts and particularly the
$1,200 training course for police officers.

And what of the future for this program and the children? "These children
and the children everywhere are our future, but it is a future that is
armed with respect for themselves and others and is empowered with the
option of saying "no!", says Constable Holland.

"Unfortunately, because of social, economic and other factors in our
society," he continues, "there are a lot of wounded birds out there and
many will still fall to the ground, but many more are being strengthened
and given a few more years to develop into good citizens by this
program. It is an excellent one and our new commanding officer, Staff Sgt.
Scott Morrison, is strongly in favour of it. With continued good parent,
teacher and business support we can win the battle against drug abuse. We
cannot afford not to."