Students DARE to resist peer pressure

Program builds self-confidence, awareness of drugs and smoking

Kristjan Trenter has never been offered drugs or cigarettes, but he knows it will happen eventually.

When it does, he’s prepared to resist the temptation of peer pressure.

“I’m not even going to try that stuff,” said the Grade 6 student.

Trenter attributes his confident attitude to what he learned from the D.A.R.E. program.

D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a drug and violence awareness program taught by the RCMP.

The Grade 5/6 split class at Ecole St. Eustache participated in the nine-week program and presented pledges stating what they learned and why they were going to say no to drugs during a graduation ceremony on May 7.

Trenter said the best part of the program was learning that there are other options to giving in to peer pressure.

“Now I know how to get out of a situation,” he said.

His classmate, Joelle Dureault, agrees.

“This will definitely help me through if I ever get in that situation,” she said.

The kids said they learned about how drugs and smoking affect your body and your life and the lives of those that love you.

The students were given another acronym for D.A.R.E. – Define, Analyze, React and Evaluate.

“It’s easy to remember,” said Dureault.

“We’ll make better decisions ,” added Grade 6 student Sami Rush.

Rush said that now if she finds herself in a bad situation she will take the time to consider her options.

“Even if you get pressured into it you can get out of it,” she said.

The students also learned about what a good friend is and what a healthy relationship is.

Trenter said he “never experienced learning that fun.”

RCMP Const. Sebastien Fortin, who taught the course, used various activities such as role playing, workbooks and trivia to teach the children the dangers of drugs and smoking.

Fortin said the D.A.R.E. program is the RCMP’s effort to educate youth.

The goal is to raise awareness and to make them see that there are other choices to giving in to peer pressure, he said.

The kids took part in nine weekly sessions which focused on a different topic each week.

“They made a tremendous effort over the nine weeks,” Fortin said. “They were really committed to the program.”

This class marked the first time Fortin has taught the program. The part he enjoyed the most was the connection he made with the childre, he said.

“In the first one or two weeks the kids weren’t sure what to think about the program,” he said. “But more and more they established a relationship of trust.”

Fortin said another benefit of the program is helping kids become more comfortable around the RCMP.

“The kids are offered a chance to meet an RCMP officer in a good situation,” he said.

The kids certainly warmed up to Fortin over the nine-week span of the program.

“Some people are scared of policemen, but now when you think of them they’re your good friends,” said student Robyn Unrau.

The kids say they will share their knowledge with their siblings at home, and Trenter said he would definitely recommend the program to others.

“All kids should do it,” he said.