Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Mar 15/04) - Fifteen Grade 7 students now know how to say no for a good cause -- themselves.

The Mangilaluk school students recently graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), taught by Tuktoyaktuk RCMP Const. Holly Glassford.

They learned about the affects of drugs and alcohol on their bodies, took part in role-playing games and learned how to stare down peer pressure during the 17-week program.

"It was lots of fun," said Shayne Cockney.

"For some things I didn't know how badly they could harm my body," said Amber Joy Gruben.

Both girls say they've never been offered drugs or alcohol and are happy they'll be prepared for it if they ever are.

"It's important to tell kids not to use drugs and if they even tried, drugs could cause brain damage, lung cancer and most of them cause death," said Cockney.

"I wouldn't use drugs because they are harmful to my body and I like to play sports so it would affect it."

Amber's mom, Ethel-Jean Gruben, said DARE can help parents as much as the kids.

"I think it is really important for children to have an opportunity to do something like this," she said.

Peer pressure and the types of drugs out there are different today than they were when Ethel-Jean was growing up.

"It's easier to get and people are not afraid to give them to our children," she said.

She said DARE also helps parents learn how best to handle a drug or alcohol-related problem more effectively.

"With alcohol and drugs, parents sometimes come down too hard," Ethel-Jean said.

She said she's already seen a difference in the kids since they took the program.

"The kids are very proud of what they did. I think in the long run this will be a good tool for them to use."