RESERVE — St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre and Sgt. Darlinta Garrison awarded Drug Abuse Resistance Education certificates Wednesday during DARE graduation for fifth graders at Fifth Ward Elementary School in Reserve.

Garrison led the fifth graders in DARE, a school-based drug awareness and prevention program that has evolved to teach students about drug awareness and prevention while also instructing them in decision-making for safe and healthy living.

The 10-week lessons, offered locally to fifth graders in elementary schools, address drugs, violence, bullying, internet safety and other high risk circumstances students’ may face in their lives.