Thanks to the D.A.R.E program — some Hanover students have acquired the skills they need to avoid drugs, alcohol and violence.
Sergeant Rob De Groot hosted a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program on Tuesday night.
He says the relies on the use of extensive role playing with police officers on practical ways to resist the pressure to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
De Groot says students responded very well to this playful form of instruction.
The D.A.R.E program focuses on four major areas — providing accurate information about alcohol and drugs, teaching students decision making skills, showing them how to resist peer pressure and giving them alternatives to drug use and violence.
About 750 students have taken the D.A.R.E pledge since the program was introduced to Hanover schools three years ago.
Many students say there favourite part was the role playing with the police officers.
By targeting preteens — De Groot hopes to better prepare students for the pressures that they will face when they reach high school.
