Pubdate: Sat, 07 Nov 2015 Source: Western Star, The (CN NF) Copyright: 2015 The Western Star Contact: http://www.thewesternstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2523 Author: Diane Crocker Page: 7 KEEPING IT REAL Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program Gives Kids the Tools to Make Healthy Decisions Gone are the days of preaching to children not to do drugs. Now when the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary presents the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to students, the idea is to give them the tools necessary to take control and make healthy decisions. The key to doing that is keeping it real, said Const. Scott Mosher. Mosher, the RNC's media relations and community liaison officer, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Corner Brook's weekly luncheon at the Glynmill Inn on Thursday. In his address he provided the group with an overview of the program - - its history, how it works and some information on drug and alcohol use among young people. The drug awareness program is geared to Grade 6 students - children who are just at the border of the age when drug and alcohol use often first begins. The program covers lessons in decision making, risky situations, safe and responsible choices, communication, consequences, bullying and resistance strategies "What I explain to the students is that keeping it real means that I'm going to give you the real information and we're going to talk about real things that are important," said Mosher, one of three officers in Corner Brook trained to facilitate the program, after his speech. And it's a conversation that can get really interesting, as Mosher is often surprised by the exposure the children have to what's out there today. Mosher said something else that's important for him is breaking down the barriers between the children and the police - showing them they have nothing to fear. "I think it's important for them to see that. We're not just there if you get in trouble. We're there to help if you've got questions about things." It's something that's worked as Mosher will have kids who've graduated from the program approach him just to talk about how they are dealing with things they learned about in the program and for help. "I want to see the young people in our city grow up to be good community people," he said. - --- [sidebar] DARE facts * Corner Brook RNC detachment has three officers trained to offer the program * D.A.R.E. is offered to Grade 6 students in six schools in the city * 13 classes a year * 250 students * in 12 years, 3,000 students have graduated from the program - --- Controls would be put on drugs, should they be legalized: officer The question has been asked a lot lately: When marijuana is legalized would it cause more youth to use or would having it more controlled help in the prevention? RNC officer Scott Mosher is quick to reply that right now the idea of legalization is theoretical. "We don't know for sure that that's going to happen." If it does, he said the model for doing so, and putting in those controls, is alcohol. "We have a system in place already that monitors and protects and regulates the sale of alcohol to minors." It's a system he thinks is making a difference but is also more of a challenge. "Right now it's easier to get some of these illicit drugs." He said legalization of marijuana would be a challenge, but again said there are good models out there to follow. He also said there could be some benefits to legalization. "If there's increased revenue through regulation or marijuana then maybe there would be more money put into prevention programs and social programs to assist people with addictions." He also said legalization would have a detering effect on youth as it would be much more difficult to acquire. It's not uncommon for marijuana today to contain other chemicals and Mosher was asked if regulation would help prevent this. In his response, Mosher said if legalized, there would be some controls on that. Regulation, he said, would make for a safer environment for users. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom