DARE was interesting and helped me learn so much. There are so many reasons to stay away from drugs. Deputy Rieder taught me how to say "NO" to drugs. She also taught me how to tell the difference between a good friend and a bad friend.

The first reason to stay away from drugs is that drugs can affect my family and me. If I take drugs, my parents would be mad at me. In fact, I'd be mad at myself. Taking drugs would make me less smart so I couldn't do my schoolwork very well. My family would be disappointed with me!

The second reason to stay away from drugs is I could lose my friends. Smoking would give me bad breath. Bad breath is stinky! Smoking would make breathing hard so I couldn't do things with my friends. I might even have to go to the hospital. I couldn't have any fun with my friends if I got sick from smoking.

The last reason to stay away from drugs is that drugs can kill me. I think 40,000 people died from drugs in a year. If I died from drugs my family would miss me, my friends would miss me and I would miss them. I'm too young to die. I'm only 11 years old.

Now I know that there are lots of reasons drugs are dangerous. DARE taught me to make good choices and stay away from drugs. If I make good choices, I can have a better life.

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