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ID .A. I \. E. by Sarah Poellinger, Mrs A <br />A world without drugs and alcohol would make the earth a healthier <br />environment to live in. People would not have to worry about friends or <br />family getting drunk. No one would have to watch loved ones suffer from <br />drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. However, in the real world drugs and alcohol <br />are present and D.A.R.E. has taught me how to avoid these pitfalls. There <br />are many kinds of beer and wine but both are similar in two ways, lots of <br />alcohol and very unhealthy. Alcohol negatively affects every organ in your <br />body. Research shows 20% of eighth graders have had alcohol. <br />Cigarettes are bad for your lungs. Research shows cigarettes are one of the <br />top causes for cancer. Cigarettes have horrible side effects such as breathing <br />problems and you can get black lungs. Smoking can also harm others; three <br />thousand non - smokers die each year from breathing smoke in the air from <br />cigarette smokers. There are two hundred poisons found in cigarette smoke. <br />Peer pressure can be good and bad. Positive peer pressure is good when <br />they are pressuring you to do something good. Negative peer pressure can <br />make you do illegal activities you don't want to do. If your role model or <br />parent is taking drugs or smoking that doesn't mean you have to. Stay away <br />from the things you know are wrong. <br />D.A.R.E. taught me different ways to say no, such as walking away, using <br />humor, giving a reason or a fact, and changing the subject. If they don't stop <br />asking then repeat what you said. Sometimes you may wonder what it feels <br />like to smoke or drink alcohol but remember all the reasons it bad for you <br />and others. Try to get it out of your mind right away. Officer Young told us <br />the story about his wife that changed my mind then and there about <br />wondering about smoking. Based on those stories I'm never going to take <br />drugs or smoke a single cigarette in my life. If you do try one you're risking <br />your health and life. I think if we all use the information given to us that we <br />