Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2014
Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2014 Journal-Pioneer
Contact:  http://www.journalpioneer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

MAKING THE SOLUTION FIT THE PROBLEM

Prince Edward Island RCMP have decided to take an international drug 
education program and tailor it to suit the needs of Island youth. 
The move makes a lot of sense because the one currently being offered 
in Island schools is based in the United States.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is a comprehensive 
school-based drug prevention program taught by police officers to 
children at the Grade 5 level. The DARE officers partner with 
classroom teachers to build protective factors for children by 
providing information and social skills needed to live drug- and violence-free.

Students are taught to use a four-step DARE decision-making model 
designed to help them engage in critical thinking, empowering them to 
make healthy choices and take charge of their lives. It provides them 
the skills to analyze each decision and evaluate their choices.

The program is usually delivered over a 10-week period, and each 
lesson is presented in a fun and factual way, designed to maximize 
student participation using an interactive workbook.

Sgt. Andrew Blackadar, media relations officer for L Division RCMP, 
said the DARE program is being looked at to see if an alternative can 
be developed for Island schools.

It's true that while students across North America are faced with 
similar pressures related to drugs, the solutions to these problems 
could be quite different. In short, what may work in Texas may not 
work on P.E.I. As well, what may have been the drug of choice a 
decade ago is completely different today.

Blackadar made that point saying police see a lot more prescription 
pill abuse on P.E.I. compared to 10 to 15 years ago.

The change in mindset of marijuana use, that's another change police 
are dealing with.

"We want to re-evaluate and get a program that is current with the 
times but also something we can say is RCMP owned," Blackadar said. 
"We could tailor it if one school or one area is having an issue with 
prescription pills, we want to be able to go in and hit that school 
hard with prescription pill information."

Island RCMP are firm in their position to deal with drug issues in 
schools and are looking to find the most effective and efficient way 
of doing that. The idea to make the solutions fit the problems is a good one.

Parental involvement is another area Island RCMP are looking to 
enhance - giving parents the information and education on how to deal 
with drug issues. Bring in certain experts from different fields and 
have a panel discussion instead of having one police officer give the 
program. A panel of four or five experts could be assembled to 
provide advice for what a parent can do.

Dealing with drug issues doesn't always have to end up in a courtroom.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom