Russell Elementary students graduated from the D.A.R.E. program at Russell-McDowell Intermediate School on Monday.
About 153 fifth-grade students — all wearing white shirts that read “keep kids off drugs” — filled the gymnasium early afternoon Monday to be recognized for their completion of the 10-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
Bryan Tackett, Russell school resource officer and a Flatwoods police officer, has now been part of educating eight fifth-grade classes and said making a difference in children’s lives is a passion.
“I know I won’t get through to every kid that I teach,” he said. “I feel if I get that one kid to make that decision to say, hey, I remember your program or remember what you did, to me that’s worth it to my life.”
Tackett said to the crowd that the program “teaches kids to be confident in life choices, how to stand up to bullying, how to say no to drugs and how to be a good citizen. These kids are our future and we need to support them now and teach them the proper ways of life.”
In addition to dozens of certificates, six students were recognized for their D.A.R.E. essays. Claire Fields won “best essay.” Braelynn Waller, Ellie Johnson, Lottie Stevens, Molly Pack and Bria Bradley were all deemed essay winners.
Fields read her essay to the crowd.
“More than 106,000 people in the United States died because of drug-involved overdose deaths. Yeah, I know. That’s pretty bad. The only reason why I am saying this is so you don’t become one of the 106,000 people,” she said. “You don’t want to end up in the hospital or, worse, end up being in the ground in a coffin. … It only takes one try, and before you know it, you’re addicted.”
Toward the end of the graduation, all students sang and danced to the D.A.R.E. program theme song called “I will D.A.R.E.”
Tackett said, “I plan on doing this as long as they keep it, the city supports it, the school supports it. As of right now I plan on coming back next year and start strong at the beginning of the school year.”
Key Addiction Points You Need to Know
Substance use disorder (SUD) is the nation’s most pressing public health challenge, and the most urgent SUD in 2024 is opioid abuse and dependency. According to the CDC, more than one million people have died since 1999 from drug overdose…
Old Lyme Officer Revives D.A.R.E. Program After Two Decades Hiatus
Officer Stephen Hackett of the Old Lyme Police Department is set to become the town’s first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) instructor in over two decades. With a new focus on skill-building, the updated D.A.R.E. program aims to empower the town’s youth to make responsible choices.
Mental Health Stigma: Life or Death
The pervasive stigma against people with addictions, particularly opioid use disorder (OUD), is a major problem requiring urgent attention in the United States. Stigma is likely at least part of the reason why only 1 in 5 individuals with opioid dependence receives…
D.A.R.E. Returns to Conway, Missouri
The Conway Elementary School D.A.R.E. Graduation was held on January 25, 2024. Fifty-seven students successfully completed the program. Deputy Jesse Sherrer of the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office did a great job teaching them good decision-making skills to help his...
Former YAB Member and D.A.R.E. Scholarship Awardee Julia Manning is now a Police Officer for the Park Ridge Police Department
Julia Manning was an active member of the YAB (Youth Advisory Board) from 2016 to 2019, and she is now proud to be an alumni of the program. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was honored with the prestigious 2019 D.A.R.E. America Louis 'Skip' Miller...
Edmonson County Schools had Over 130 Fifth-Grade Students Graduate from their D.A.R.E. Program
The program is designed to provide tools and resources for students to encounter any difficult situation as they grow up.
D.A.R.E. Graduation at Holy Trinity School
D.A.R.E. Officer Michael Brown's D.A.R.E. class just completed the middle school curriculum at Holy Trinity School located in Bellevue, KY. Officer Brown graduated 11 middle school students. Officer Brown and the D.A.R.E. graduates were joined by the Honorable State...
5th Grader Writes Letter to Future Self Inspired by Taylor Swift for D.A.R.E Graduation
Norah’s letter uses 13 different Swift song titles to illustrate topics like bullying, stress management and drug and alcohol prevention.
Wahpeton Fifth Graders Graduate from D.A.R.E.
Officer Lisa Page, Wahpeton Police Department, serves as Wahpeton Public School District’s Resource Officer (RO). Resource officers are the individuals inside schools to ensure everyone's safety. Resource officers are not only inside schools for disciplinary actions,...