Taking a Stand Against Drugs and Violence

by Jade Hoku Kekauoha

The DARE Program is a very important program for the children in our community to learn about because Waimanalo is now being labeled as a drug community. There are people all over homestead that I see that are either dealing or using drugs. They do it like it is as legal as smoking a cigarette. These people can be awfully dangerous because those who do it have different types of mood changes that can make them violent when things don't seem to go their way.

Drugs are unhealthy for your body and can cause serious damages to your brain. For the most important reason it is illegal. The police departments should get down on these people more because they are really harming us children who live near or those who have family members involved with it. They don't understand how much a child suffers until it is too late. The DARE Program is a very good program and should be taught to students, children who are ready to learn, and the main ones, the parents. Drugs and violence are taking over the world and this program can help educate our minds to stop it before it is too late. I mean to see families with children on welfare and spending their whole check and food stamps is very sad. It is to be used for their children, not for their terrible habit. This is a very serious problem: welfare should be for people who really need the help, not for those who are just going to abuse it.

Being in the DARE program has helped me to realize how dangerous drugs are. It has also taught me that there is no hope in it and it will not make me a better person because I do it or if I am selling it. Drugs will also not help you get anywhere or make you anybody special, it will just ruin your life and might even put you in jail one day, or even for a lifetime.

For me drugs and alcohol can make you do a lot of things you don't want to when under the influence. The main thing that I really wonder is how it is so easy for people to get them and where they come from. I know they come from all over the world but why can't the police or FBI get a hold of them. They seem to be coming in faster than anyone can do anything.

When I get older I will not do any of these things. I feel that I have a strong mind and still say this when I get older. I like to save money, and I would hate to support a habit that would leave my pockets empty and then I wouldn't be very happy. I am also not a violent person and I would hate to see my self that way. I don't want to hurt my family, especially my grandpa. That isn't the way he raised me and I don't want to disappoint him.

Drugs and violence are a terrible thing so...

DARE to Say No!