Students graduating from D.A.R.E. program learn harmful effects of drugs

It’s a big day for 5th graders from Woodland Hills Elementary School. They’re graduating from the Bonneville County D.A.R.E. program. The program aims to teach kids about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.

“To have good citizens and to keep the kids safe is our main goal,” said Deputy Brad Miller, a D.A.R.E. instructor. “And so the D.A.R.E concepts that we teach will help them along those paths. Being drug free, getting involved in life. You know, those things are going to be really important for their future.”

The program teaches them many things including about drug abuse and addiction, peer pressure and problem solving. The kids learn what could happen when addicted to harmful things like drugs.

“I don’t want to lose my family and friends to drugs and I want to live a happy and healthy life,” said Trinity Hopkins, a D.A.R.E graduate. “And not end up in prison.”

“We did goggles where you don’t, like it shows you how to, what it’d be like to be drunk,” said Logan Billings, another D.A.R.E graduate. “And we did the pop challenge. And we did a bunch of other fun stuff.”

The graduation is not only exciting for the kids, but the instructors teaching them as well.

“Afterwards you can see the excitement that they have from graduating from the D.A.R.E program,” Deputy Miller said. “And I’ve had kids tell me ‘that’s the best day of my life’ and that’s really rewarding.”

There will be more D.A.R.E. Graduations for District 93 this week. They will be held each night through Thursday at 7pm at the Hillcrest High School auditorium in Ammon. The D.A.R.E. instructors even have a band and perform for the kids at the end of graduation.