ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Students in Fort Liard are a little more savvy about how to handle situations concerning drugs, alcohol and violence following a two-month, RCMP-run awareness program taught at the school.

Thanks to the teachings, Julianne Klondike says she knows exactly what she'd do if someone offered her a cigarette.

Students in Grade 5 are the first at Echo Dene School to take the DARE. Program. RCMP Const. Mark Amatto, far left, back row, led the students through the program. Participating were, from left, Abigale Duntra, Tyrone McLeod-Berreault, Dylan Steeves, Wade Hope, William Sassie and Brandon Hardisty; front row: Danielle Capot-Blanc, Tyler Bertrand, Naomi Beaulieu, Precious Timbre-Hope, Katrina Emmons and Cameron Bertrand. - photo courtesy of Mark Amatto

"I'd tell them I don't smoke and that I don't want anything wrong with my body," she said.

Klondike, a Grade 5 student at Echo Dene School in Fort Liard, came up with her response with the help of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. Klondike and her classmates were the first students at the school to participate in the program.

DARE was developed in 1983 to teach students skills to avoid involvement with drugs and alcohol as well as violence.

The objective of the program is to teach students how to resist in their own ways, said RCMP Const. Mark Amatto, who led the Grade 5 students through the program.

A lot of times young people will go with the flow if they're in a situation they've never faced before, he said. In the first of eight lessons, the program teaches students a decision-making model that helps them breakdown complex situations.

The model allows students to make their own informed decisions and gives them information to support it.

It's tailored for the "what-if kids" because they can evaluate if their choice is a good one and why, Amatto said.

"They come up with their own unique ways to resist alcohol, tobacco and other drugs," he said.

Klondike, 11, said during the program she learned about the effects tobacco, marijuana and alcohol can have on a body. She's adamant about what her response to those substances will be in the future.

"No, I'll never do that," she said.

Classmate Katrina Emmons, 10, said the most important thing she learned is alcohol is bad for you. Emmons said she enjoyed the class and believes all students should take it.

Amatto said the students particularly latched on to the sections of the program that dealt with alcohol and tobacco.

"It spoke more to them because they experience it," he said.

The program also touched on inhalant abuse, tobacco advertising, bullying and peer pressure. Amatto said the class felt special because it was the first in the school

to take the program.

"I had their full attention each time," he said.

The students began the program on Feb. 25 and celebrated their graduation with a brief ceremony, a pizza party and a movie on April 20.

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