Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2011 Source: Kootenay News Advertiser (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Kootenay News Advertiser Contact: http://www.kootenayadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2651 DEAR FUTURE ME, This year in grade 5, I really enjoyed D.A.R.E. I learned that tobacco has 200 known poisons, tar, causes cancer, breathing problems and death. Tobacco smoke kills forty-five thousand people each year in Canada. It can cause yellow fingertips and teeth. Marijuana has 400 chemicals and is illegal in Canada. It causes slow relaxes and coordination loss. This year, I learned how many advertisements there are in store windows, magazines and on billboards. Alcohol is bad for kids because it can cause memory loss, poor judgment and slurred speech. Alcohol can make you die and if you drink too much you may need a liver transplant. I learned that it's hard to say no to friends because they might say they're not your friend anymore. I could make new friends, if this happens. I pledge to my parents and brother that I will never do marijuana, drink alcohol until I'm nineteen and smoke tobacco. I will never do this because I want to play hockey for a long time. Quinn Grist Grade 5 Student Highlands Elementary I like D.A.R.E a lot because I learned all about drugs and how to say "NO" to them. I learned what drugs and alcohol do to your body. I will not do drugs because they can KILL you and they're BAD for your body. Anyway, who would want to smoke when there are more than 200 known poisons in them, you're pretty much killing yourself. Tobacco effects your whole body and makes you smell horrible. Alcohol will slow you down and if you get drunk, you throw up and have a big headache, who would want that to happen? Smoking causes breathing problems and heart disease. Alcohol also damages every organ in your body. I pledge that I will never do drugs, and I won't drink until I'm of legal age because I want to have a healthy childhood. Yours Truly, Oliver Rushworth Grade 5 Student Highlands Elementary - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.