Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark tell D.A.R.E. program graduates in schools they must make the right choices in life and use the tools they have been given

At Joseph Davies Elementary, essay winners are, from left, Kaleb Larousse, Michele Wilson and Da’ Shyrah Sims. The fourth winner, Emily Brand, wasn’t present. On the right is Principal Donna Schultz. In back are Sgt. Darrin Miller, Lt. Lisa Jackson, Sheriff James Pohlmann and Maj. Chad Clark.

At J.F. Gauthier Elementary School, essay winners are, from left, Zoe’ Latapie, Isabella Bazile and Camille Thomassie; in back are Sgt. Darrin Miller, Sheriff James Pohlmann. Maj. Chad Clark, Principal Lisa Young and Lt. Lisa Jackson.

At Lynn Oaks School, in the front, from left, are essay runner-up Barry Alexis and winner Tori Mire; behind them students Cayden Lepine, Kobie Tremblay, Tori Baudot, Tatum Miller, Robyn Polk, Nanon Dean, Christian Moore and Principal Kim Duplantier. In back are Lt, Robert Broadhead, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Maj. Chad Clark, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Lt. Lisa Jackson, sgt. Darrin Miller and teacher Chris Wilder Jr.

At Arabi Elementary School. in the front row are D.A.R.E. essay winners, from left, Darrell Williams Jr., Olivia Chaupette. Jaila Day and Livia Deane; in back are Sgt. Darrin Miller, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy, Maj. chad Clark, Lt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Lisa Jackson.

Some of the parents at Gauthier are shown taking videos and photos of their children as they perform the D.A.R.E. theme song.

Children must concentrate on making the right choices to have productive lives, including listening to their parents and teachers and deciding who they should and shouldn’t associate with, Sheriff James Pohlmann said at several D.A.R.E. program graduation ceremonies in recently St. Bernard Parish schools.

And he said parents must “stay engaged with their children,’’ including talking often with them and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use.

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 the Special Investigations Division 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. But he said overdose deaths have been going down in the parish because of a combination of factors including law enforcement diligence.

Several hundred 5th-grade students recently graduated the D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse 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, Joseph Davies Elementary and J.F. Gauthier Elementary.

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

“Parents must engage 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, Sheriff 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, the sheriff 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. “Don’t wait until it is too late,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Maj. Clark told children they have received the tools they need to begin making right choices. He also said parents can call the SID Division at 271-DOPE (3673) 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, Sgt. Miller and Capt. Ronnie Martin were Chief Deputy Richard Baumy and Lt. Richard Jackson at the Arabi Elementary graduation and Lt. Robert Broadhead at the Lynn Oaks graduation.