Pubdate: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 Source: Airdrie City View (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 Airdrie City View Ltd. Contact: http://airdriecityview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3202 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) JUST SAY YES ..To The Airdrie RCMP's DARE Program. We are commending the Airdrie RCMP for implementing the DARE program in local schools, to help prevent student drug use from getting out of hand. Ecstasy abuse and the trafficking of 'E' is on the rise, posing serious social concerns. Once confined to major metropolitan areas, 'E' trafficking has now expanded to smaller communities. Airdrie has experienced this first hand when a teenager overdosed on the drug in May. The DARE curriculum is designed to be taught by police officers whose training and experience gives them the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about drugs and crime. DARE goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives children the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities. The DARE program also has a number of spin off benefits such as humanizing officers so young people begin to trust and relate to them and opening the lines of communication between students and the police. Some people say programs like DARE are frightening and misleading, but if children are alarmed that may be an important factor in deterring kids from using. As for misleading, the police officers teaching the program see the effects of drug abuse everyday, they don't have to lie about the horrible consequences of using. We need to encourage our children to say 'no' to drugs by saying 'yes' to the Airdrie RCMP's DARE program in local schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D