Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 29/99) - In 1986, the Los Angeles Police Department decided to attack the problem of drugs on the streets by heading them off at the schools with a new program called DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

Yellowknife RCMP Const. Maria Williams said the program was originally geared to high school-aged children, but found it to be ineffectual for that age.

"In 1987, the LAPD was having problems with gangs, so they set up DARE," she said. "They started at a Grade 9 level, but found that kids were already exposed to drugs and really wouldn't listen to police."

The new program is aimed at grades 5 and 6, Williams said.

DARE is a new program to the North, she says, but the program is catching on in many communities.

"DARE has been going on here, since April of last year," she said. "It got started in the Catholic school system and this is the first year for the public system."

DARE is primarily a drug education program, she said, but Williams added it is also a life-skills building program.

Building confidence and decision-making skills are equally important, she said.

Parents and teachers are urged to take part in the program from the very start, Williams said.

"We first have a parent meeting at the beginning of each program, where the parents can ask any questions about the program."

She said the program centres on the use and abuse of three main drugs.

"The three gateway drugs are tobacco, alcohol and marijuana," Williams said. "Once you try tobacco, you'll try alcohol and marijuana. After you go on to marijuana, you'll go on to harder drugs like cocaine, heroin and LSD."

The program is a combined effort, with the community, schools and RCMP all working together to deliver it.

"It's a co-operative learning program between the schools and the RCMP," Williams explained. "The RCMP will take one member off the street to allow them to teach the program."

Emphasis is placed on getting to know the children.

"We go during recess so the kids can ask a question if they don't feel comfortable talking about it in class," she said. "It also gives us a chance to get to know the kids a bit better too."

A fun approach to learning has the students looking forward to their weekly DARE classes, she said.

"The kids all look forward to having DARE," Williams said. "They are all disappointed if, for some reason we have to cancel."

"I have kids coming up to me, while I'm on my own time and hugging me in the grocery store," she smiled.

Principal Mike Simms at Joseph Burr Tyrrel elementary school in Fort Smith said the program is in its first year there and he's glad to have it as part of the curriculum.

"It's going superbly," Simms said. "The kids are great to work with and they really enjoy it."

The elementary-aged students are the perfect target to this type of education, he said.

"The maturity level is what they try to deal with -- the physical and mental development of the students is key."

"There are some things the kids are being exposed to and the idea is to try and nip that right there in terms of attitude, perception and understanding," Simms said.

While substance abuse is not a big problem at his school, Simms said, the problem is universal and the schools must recognize that.

"We don't get very much involvement directly in the school, but you know that the stuff is out there," he said. "We've had things like paraphernalia found right in the schoolyard -- any community has that."

"But the main thing is that the children know what it is and how to handle it," he said. "The kids are pretty aware of it."

The realities of drugs are everywhere, he said. The best thing communities can do is talk openly about these concerns.

"(Drugs and alcohol) has got to be part of the conversation and once it's there, they have got to make the decision as to how they're going to handle it."