Molly Hutton
St. Anne Catholic School
D.A.R.E. Essay
Did you know, 400,000 Americans die from smoking yearly? Well, that is true. A famous quote said by Stonewall Jackson is, “I am more afraid of alcohol than the bullets of the enemy.” You shouldn't be afraid of alcohol, you should be afraid of what it does to you. D.A.R.E is all about good decisions, and good decisions lead to a healthy life. I learned how to say no, what tobacco use can do to you, and alcohol use thanks to the D.A.R.E program at my school. Since I have D.A.R.E, I know how to avoid these things.
Alcohol is very bad for your body. Alcohol can damage your brain, heart, liver and more. Drinking is a poor choice! Drinking alcohol causes slow reflexes, memory loss, and self-control loss. I would never drink, because I don’t want to lose my health.
Second, tobacco is a poor choice, too. Smoking can cause many things such as bad smells, yellow teeth, wrinkled skin, lung cancer, or possibly death. There are also over 200 known harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. Smoking is a bad choice for your health.
Finally, knowing how to say “no” is very important in different situations. Make sure you hang around people who don’t do drugs. If someone asked you a question such as “Wanna smoke?” you can simply just say no and walk away. You can also change the subject or make up an excuse, like, “I’d be grounded for life,” or “I have to get home to walk my dog, sorry.” Making up stories and changing the subject will help you stay healthy.
In conclusion, D.A.R.E is very helpful for everyone. Knowing how to say no, what tobacco use can do to you, and alcohol abuse is helpful in different situations. I would like to thank Officer Whitt for helping me understand the dangers of drinking or smoking. I know what these things can do to me, and that’s why I will never smoke, drink, and I’ll hang around good non-users.