Pubdate: Thu, 13 Mar 2008
Source: Herald News, The (Fall River, MA)
Copyright: 2008 The Herald News
Contact:  http://www.heraldnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3604
Author: Jay Pateakos, Herald News Staff  Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

JUNIOR HIGH SCRAPPING DARE PROGRAM

SWANSEA - After years of teaching the DARE program to local 
middle-schoolers, Joseph Case Jr. High School recently changed 
programs from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education curriculum to a 
Project Alert program, which the school says provides students with 
updated research methods and more interaction. Case Jr. Principal 
Robert Monteiro said the switch stemmed from the school's difficulty 
securing a DARE-certified officer to teach the program and the need 
to improve on the traditional DARE program in order to hit more 
crucial areas. When former long-time DARE officer Lt. Robert Cabral 
was killed in November 2005, the DARE program was at a standstill 
until Officer Shane Mello took up the lead a few months later.

But in order for Mello to become DARE certified, he had to partake in 
a two-week training course, a difficult requirement for small-town 
police staff.

The last two years, Mello was assisted by DARE certified officers 
from Somerset.

Last fall, members from Fall River's BOLD Coalition, which implements 
Project Alert, spoke at a School Committee meeting about the 
advantages of the program. Monteiro and Mello spent the next few 
months researching the program before unveiling the first class last month.

"We've studied the curriculum thoroughly. It's completely updated and 
it helps to teach different resistance skills and coping skills," 
said Monteiro. " There is a lot more peer interaction and they cover 
a whole range of issues, from smoking to marijuana to alcohol.  There 
is role playing where they make decisions and then they act out those 
decisions." According to a BOLD Coalition study, Project Alert led to 
a 30 percent reduction in the initiation of marijuana use; a 60 
percent decrease in current marijuana use; a 20-25 percent drop in 
cigarette use; decreased regular and heavy smoking by 33-55 percent 
and helps to substantially reduce students pro-drug attitudes and beliefs.

"It presents the kids with factual information. They see that if a 
person uses alcohol, these are the possible consequences rather than 
just preaching prevention," said Karen Fischer, Director of BOLD. "It 
even talks about some of the false information students are given, 
teaching them six different ways to say no, helping them to do the 
right thing." While Project Alert's program is for sixth-graders, 
there is also a booster program that allows seventh-graders to get a 
refresher on the issues. Fischer said that Project Alert is 
constantly updated with new information and on how to work with 
adolescents, something that DARE lacks. "Sometimes things are very 
well-intended that just don't work," said Fischer. "It touches on a 
broader aspect of everything we are trying to teach here at the 
junior high, from drugs to bullying," said Mello. "It was what Mr. 
Monteiro and I were looking to create until Project Alert came through.

It's not so much a guessing game anymore; this program spells it out 
so kids can really grasp it." Mello said he has only taught four 
classes so far, but the differences could be seen immediately.

Monteiro said Project Alert would have received a thumbs up from 
"Officer Bob." Although Cabral had given a lot of time to the DARE 
program - all on a volunteer basis - Monteiro said Cabral would be 
happy that the school is providing the best opportunities for the 
students to deal with life's many difficult situations.

"Bobby was a DARE guy, but Bobby would have approved any changes that 
would benefit the kids," said Monteiro. "His No. 1 priority was 
always what was best for them."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake