Pubdate: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Chilliwack Times Contact: http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357 Author: Tyler Olsen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) DARE Done in by Lack of Police Resources The Chilliwack RCMP has said no more to a drug education program at local schools. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (DARE) operated by the Mounties has been cancelled because the RCMP says it needs officers on the street instead of in the classroom. Last year the program operated at just half its normal levels, but even that cut-back service taxed the RCMP. "We're experiencing some capacity issues with some of the crime issues and files that we're dealing with in town," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop. "We have to do the best we can with the resources that we have." The DARE program is used across the world. In Chilliwack, it included a nine-week program for Grade 5 students. It focused on giving students "a decision making model" to allow them to make healthy choices throughout their lives. The program is listed on the City of Chilliwack's website, which states: "By investing time and energy in today's youth through the DARE program, we are committed to reducing drugs and violence and preventing crime for the future." In addition to the DARE decision making model, lesson topics include tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, peer pressure, positive alternatives to drugs and the media's influence. Dunlop said that the RCMP believes in DARE, but that it's just too time consuming. In the past, one officer has been devoted solely to the program along with other Mounties who chip in their time. "We definitely see the value in the program but at this point we can't continue on with this," said Dunlop. "Basically the town has continued to grow and it has put a strain on our resources to the point where we've had to make the decisions and unfortunately that was one of them." Overall manpower levels are determined by how much the municipalities that contract the RCMP to provide police services pay. Mayor Sharon Gaetz told the Times that the Mounties are free to adjust their budget as they wish. While the city has not begun deliberations on next year's budget, she said, "I would be surprised if we could increase police budgeting." With the DARE program abandoned, Dunlop is hoping teachers and parents pick up the slack. "The message out there to educators and to parents is to please continue to deliver the message."School district superintendent Corinne McCabe said the program will be missed. "Certainly the loss of the DARE program is a loss to the schools and the community and it's been a really strong program, but it's a resource issue for [the RCMP] and we totally understand it," she said. "It will leave a hole but we have a number of programs that we're going to look at and we'll be working with our councillors around that." One of those programs is run by Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS), which offers drug counselling and prevention services in Chilliwack schools. PCRS addiction services manager Lee Ann Hanson said that while any program is a loss, she feels confident that PCRS in-school counsellors will be able to pick up the slack. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake