The D.A.R.E. Program is an acronym for Drug Abuse Resistance Education which has been an important part of our local elementary and middle school’s curriculum. They are now tackling the opioid crisis by implementing it into the program.
“So myself, Detective Nick Bates and Officer Tyler Cressel attending this training and certification up at the Utah State Capital. We were three of 20 office in the state that were certified in this new curriculum,” stated Price City Police Sergeant Kelly Maynes. “This is a great thing for us to be able to roll out into our younger kids to teach them at a younger age about the dangers of the opioid issued that our out there.” The new update is hopeful in putting a dent in the opioid problem by providing the facts and dangers to the younger generation.
The ten-week program gives students homework from the days discussion, opportunity to do some role play situations of peer pressure but most importantly a chance to interact with the officers. “I really enjoy this program; it is an awesome program. You spend a lot of time talking about a lot of different things. Obviously, we talk about the dangers of drugs but we also go over a lot of things. Mainly, teaching kids how to make healthy and wise decisions to hopefully have a positive impact on their lives, so when they get past this program, they’re more confident in their abilities to make good choices especially when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse,” stated Maynes.
The preventative program is a breath of fresh air for officers from their daily tasks. It’s an opportunity to interact with the youth in our community. “It’s a different tone of what we normally have to do, it’s nice to get into the classrooms and be able to talk to the kids and get the information out. It’s also nice because the kids have the opportunity to…here’s a cop standing in front of them, they get to ask any question they want in regards to what law enforcement does or anything about the officer.” Maynes has been involved in the D.A.R.E. program for 15 years and has seen firsthand the positive effect it has on students who complete the program.