Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006
Source: Caledonia Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Fort Saint James Courier
Contact:  http://www.caledoniacourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3189
Author: Chris Shepherd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

DARE COMES TO

The RCMP have a dare for students.

For the first time in Fort St. James, students in Grade 7 and 8 will  
go through the popular drug and alcohol education program, DARE.  
Originally, the drug abuse resistance education (DARE) was only  
offered to elementary school students.

The DARE program recently introduced a course for students in Grades  
7 and 8 and two officers from the local RCMP detachment just  
qualified to run the course.

Consts. Ryan Wilton and Chris von Colditz hope to start teaching the  
course after the spring break, though Wilton said time is short as  
the program runs 10 weeks. There are 11 weeks of school after the  
spring break.

"We'll fit in what we can," said Wilton, who's looking forward to  
teaching the course.

"The theme for the (Grade) 7's and 8's is taking charge of your  
life," Wilton said.

In classes that run once a week, Wilton and von Colditz will teach  
the students about drugs and alcohol, their effects on the body and  
ways they may be pressured to use them.

"We just want to provide them with information to make healthy life  
choices."

As an example, Wilton points to a national survey which reports 13.6  
per cent of 12- to 14-year-olds smoke. Those numbers are good to  
counter any claim that "everybody smokes."

"Eighty-six point four aren't smoking. You want to show that."

Using role playing, group work and book assignments, students are  
taught the consequences of drug and alcohol use.

Wilton said the students are taught the difference between drinking  
as a youth and as an adult.

Youth shouldn't drink, he says, because their bodies can't handle the  
alcohol like adults can.

Wilton points out it won't do to have students going home and giving  
their parents a hard time for having a beer or glass of wine.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl