Another school brings in drug education program

Page 8

Dare to resist drugs and alcohol. That's the message behind DARE, a program that has been running in Nanaimo elementary schools for four years. The initials stand for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

On Jan. 14 of this year, RCMP Const. Mike Carey, First Nations policing officer for the Snuneymuxw and the Nanoose First Nations kicked off the DARE program at Bayview Elementary School. Half the student population of Bayview is made up of First Nations children.

Bayview Principal Donna Dojack said of the program, "I think it's great. It gives the children the reality of the situation and it gives them awareness of what's out there."

DARE was pioneered in 1983 in the United States by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Unified School District. It has since spread to 30 countries around the world. More than 40 million children have taken the 17-week course.

The program encourages children to ask questions. If they feel too shy to ask them in class, they may put written questions into the DARE box. The course covers all aspects of peer pressure and resistance skills. It covers violence as well as drug resistance.

DARE was first introduced in Canada in Prince George in 1997. The reports from the RCMP, schools, and parents are overwhelmingly positive.

DARE is aimed at grades five and six students.

"In most studies they've found it's at this age that children are first being exposed to drugs and alcohol or are being offered drugs and alcohol," Carey said, "and we want to teach kids the truth about drugs and alcohol before they get pressured."

Carey, who is a member of the Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, calls the DARE program the highlight of his day.

"In previous classes kids have demonstrated that they've learned-and not just the facts about drug and alcohol abuse but about the pressures of people trying to get them to use drugs and alcohol-peer pressure, family pressure, and the media. We talk about positive alternative activities. At first I'm just a policeman-they recognize the uniform-but after a while they know my name and there's a trust that develops."

As with most teachers, Phil Murphy said he is eager to have the program in the classroom.

"It brings an awful lot of awareness and teaches kids how to resist drugs. I think it's also a really good opportunity for kids to see police officers in a good light. They get to meet the constable and they get the information they need."