STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO SAY NO TO DRUGS

SPRING HILL -- It's not simple to just say no to drugs, according to
Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent.

You have to give students ways to say no and educate them on what
they are saying yes to, Nugent said.

Nugent and Deputies Carlo Daleo Jr., and Rob Pacchiarotti
congratulated fifth- and sixth-graders at Spring Hill Christian
Academy last Wednesday after the two groups completed weeks of
learning about the dangers of drugs and gangs.

The fifth-graders took part in D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
program), the ongoing program that has been administered throughout
the nation's schools. Last week Spring Hill Christian Academy got
their turn at the specialized training.

D.A.R.E. students received class lessons on how to resist peer
pressure and how to live drug and violence-free lives.

However, this year, the Hernando County Sheriff's department launched
a newer program to educate older students on the ways to avoid drugs
and crime. That program is called G.R.E.A.T. or Gang Resistance
Education and Training.

"G.R.E.A.T. picks up on a lot of the principles of D.A.R.E.," Nugent
said. "They use decision-making models. They use tools on how to make
good choices."

Nugent said by role playing and going through decision-making models,
the group of young people will be able to make the proper decisions
when they are away from their good role models like their mothers and fathers.

"The problem is not as simple as saying no (to drugs)," Nugent said.
"You have to give them ways to say no."

According to Nugent, there are about eight different ways to say no.
Without prompting, the students remembered them all but that's not
what impressed students the most.

"I learned all the ways to say not to drugs (like) the cold
shoulder," said sixth-grader Shalani Kooner, 12. "I was surprised to
learn that a lot of women join gangs, too."

Sixth-grader Luke May said one of the statistics he learned during
the 13-week class surprised him the most.

"If you're in a gang, you're 60 percent more likely to be killed,"
May said. "A lot of times you suffer the consequences just joining."

All fifth- and sixth-graders who participated in the program received
certificates. Sixth-grader Kayla James was named the winner of the
essay contest.

Because of James' win, she will join other school winners to compete
for the countywide competition.