Drug Awareness Resistance Educations graduations held at 4 St. Bernard schools; 5th-graders told the choices they make will affect their lives and parents told to look for warning signs of drug use

Gauthier students stand to perform, the D.A.R.E. song.

Chalmette Elementary students stand to perform the D.A.R.E. song

At Gauthier Elementaqry, D.A.R.E. essay winners were, in front, Brooklyn Casanova, Brielle Hoffman, Bryce Fagan, Cameron Vosbein. In back are Sgt. Darrin Miller,Principal Lisa Young, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark, Capt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Lisa Jackson.	At Chalmette Elementary School, essay winners were, in front, Kalvionna Washington, Jy’Jay Johnson, A’Jada Hagan, Paijanee Metz, Emily Cauthern. In back are Princippal Elizabeth Winslow, Sgt. Darrin Miller, Capt, Ronnie Martin, Sheriff James Pohlmann and Lt. Lisa Jackson.
At Lynn Oaks School, D.A.R.E. essay winners were, in front, Jenna Lemoine and Shayla Green. In back are Capt. Ronnie Martin, Principal Kim Duplantier, Maj. Chad Clark and Sgt. Darrin Miller.	Winners of the D.A.R.E. essays at Arabi Elementary are, in front row: Taylor Hebert, Dawnell Conley, Kennise Baker and Katie Jovel. In the back are Principal Carla Carolla, Lt. Lisa Jackson, Sgt. Darrin Miller, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Maj. Chad Clark and Sheriff James Pohlmann.
Arabi students stand to sing the D.A.R.E. song in the closing ceremony.	Lynn Oaks fifth-graders perform the D.A.R.E. song.

Parents must “stay engaged with their children,’’ including talking often with them and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use and children must come to realize the choices they make will affect their future life, Sheriff James Pohlmann said at several D.A.R.E. program graduation ceremonies in St. Bernard Parish schools.

If necessary, drug test kits are available at pharmacies to test young people, the sheriff told parents. “If your child isn’t on drugs, hug them and tell them you love them. If they are on drugs, you still hug them and tell them you love them,’’ but look for treatment options to get to the problem, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Maj. Chad Clark, commander of Special Investigations including the Narcotics Unit, said it takes the kind of education effort given by Sheriff’s Office drug resistance instructors at parish schools to affect the drug problem in America. “We can’t arrest ourselves out of this problem,’’ Clark said, noting there still are overdoses and fatalities from drug use in St. Bernard Parish.

Several hundred 5th-grade students recently graduated the D.A.R.E., or Drug Awareness Resistance Education, program given by St. Bernard sheriff’s officers Lt. Lisa Jackson, commander of the program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller.

Graduations were held at Arabi Elementary, Lynn Oaks School, Gauthier Elementary and Chalmette Elementary.

The program, held in both public and private schools, was re-established in 2009, four years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Parents must stay engaged wih their children’’ on many levels and especially so when it comes to helping them avoid the peer pressure to get involved with drugs, alcohol or violence, Pohlmann told a number of large audiences of parents and students.

“Learn the warning signs of drug use,’’ in young people, he said, including:
– Loss of interest in things they used to do such as sports or reading. – Hanging around with new groups of friends unknown to parents. – Sudden attitude or mood swings. – Sudden problems connected with school and academics.

Talk regularly with your children and be familiar with their friends, Pohlmann said.

If parents see signs of possible problems, don’t be hesitant to ask what is happening and, if necessary, use home drug-test kits to make sure they aren’t on drugs, he said.

Maj. Clark parents can call the SID Division at 271-DOPE to make an appointment if they want to discuss any particular problem involving their children and drugs.

Taking part in D.A.R.E. graduations from the Sheriff’s Office besides Sheriff Pohlmann, Maj. Clark, Lt. Jackson and Sgt. Miller were Capt. Ronnie Martin and Capt Richard Jackson, both of the SID Division.