Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 14/02) - Some 60 Inuvik elementary students have gained a clearer insight into the dark world of drugs and violence, thanks to a program run by the RCMP.

he DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program began in 1984 with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Looking for solutions to preventing young people from getting involved with drugs and gang violence, the LAPD started the DARE program to deliver to high school students.

Program organizers found that by high school age, it was almost too late as by then, many students were already experimenting or involved in drugs and gangs. The program was re-tooled and aimed at an elementary audience.

Since then, the program has spread throughout the United States and Canada.

RCMP Cpl. Tim Beland was one of the program co-ordinators for the Inuvik program.

"Their philosophy behind developing the program is, that they found pre-teen students are going to be faced with choices," he said. "At high school and at that age, they are faced with the choice of whether or not they are going to use drugs, alcohol or other substances."

DARE gives the kids an overview of what drugs are and how to make informed and reasonable decisions about them.

"It teaches students how to deal with peer pressure, ways to say 'No' to drug offers, and help find positive alternatives to violence and drug use," Beland said.

DARE also focuses on building self-esteem, so that kids will have the confidence to face the issues of drugs and violence in an assertive way.

"DARE is a life skills program" Beland said. "We hope they will take what they have learned from this program with them and use it in the years to come."

Ten-year-old Zachary Manuel has never met anyone who has taken drugs, but knows what to do now, if he's ever confronted with the situation.

"I learned not to do drugs," Manuel said. "I learned how they change your life."

"Without drugs, you have better social skills and you have a less chance of using violence," he added.

Eleven-year-old Polly Price learned that illegal drugs can ruin lives.

"I learned that drugs can be very harmful to you and they can kill you," Price said.

She said the students learned that a drug-free lifestyle means you will be a wealthier, healthier person.

"If you don't do drugs, you will have a really good life."