By Harold Keller-Get High on Life

I’m sure most people have seen the bumper sticker: “DARE to Keep Your Kids off Drugs.” The D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program is a national program that many sheriff departments endorse and teach in local schools.

My granddaughter, Tiffani Serven, a fifth-grader at Reserve Christian School, graduated from the class last week. I attended the graduation ceremony and listened as Lt. Michael Hoover of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Department explained the program taught to fifth and eighth graders in parish schools.

Lt. Hoover is well-respected as the DARE coordinator. The children are attracted to his professionalism and passion for getting this positive message to each group in a loving and caring manner.

Each student was asked to write a short essay of what they learned in the class and Tiffani was asked to read her comments at the graduation. The following is what she had to say about the program:

“I think the DARE program is lots of fun and people can learn a lot of things like I did. It has taught me:

Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and there are 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke. More than 400,000 people die from tobacco-related causes each year. On every cigarette box there is a surgeon general’s warning telling the consequences.

Marijuana causes breathing problems and it affects your brain and body. It is illegal in the United States, unless prescribed by a doctor for specific medical reasons. Because it has 50 to 70 percent more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco, it is very addictive.

Alcohol slows down the brain and body and can damage every organ in your body. One can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a glass of wine. It is very dangerous to mix alcohol and medicines together. Teens should never drink alcohol, because their bodies are not fully developed and therefore alcohol is more dangerous for them.

I think being drug-free is important to me because I care about my body and I want to take good care of it.

I am going to remain drug-free!”

I pray that Tiffani will always remember what she learned as a fifth-grader.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational organization. Call 652-8477 or write to P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084.