Whitehall police have been daring students to resist drugs and alcohol for 15 years, and about 170 Whitehall Elementary School fifth-graders are the latest to take the pledge.

About 90 parents came to the school last week to watch their children "graduate" from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- or DARE program -- and receive certificates of completion from the Whitehall police.

The DARE program started in Los Angeles County, Calif., and has expanded across the nation, Whitehall DARE officer Dave Artman said.

"It's a program that is not based on lectures but uses a lot of group discussions and activities," Artman said. "The kids really like it, and we focus on resisting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants."

The DARE program targets fifth-grade students, although students interact with it in every grade level in Baldwin-Whitehall, Artman said.

"They get a lot out of it," Artman said. "And it does work. Drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco use are all down amongst teens, and I think one of the reasons is because we're getting these kids the information they need to make healthy choices."

Whitehall Elementary Principal Andrea Dorfzaun said students look forward to having Artman come into the classroom.

"I think it reiterates and reinforces drug and alcohol prevention," Dorfzaun said. "It celebrates the kids proactively taking a stand. It is a big celebration that our kids are making good choices and seeking support when they need it."

Fifth-grader Sarah Kanar said the DARE program is an invaluable tool all students should be able to use.

She said the real-life situations that Artman brought to the class and the methods he used, such as having kids act in skits and keep a DARE notebook, helped stress the importance of avoiding controlled substances.

"Officer Dave helped teach us why you shouldn't use drugs and how to avoid bad situations," Sarah said. "It also taught us why we should stay away from drugs."

Artman said he teaches students what to do if someone offers them cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.

"We bring in real-life situations and solve problems that real kids had with drugs and alcohol," Artman said. "We also teach them a decision model to follow that shows kids how to define, assess, respond and evaluate the situation."

Fifth-grader Alana Dandrea said the program is worthwhile.

"The class took a lot of time, but it really has helped us get to know more about drugs," Alana said. "It gave us a lot of information and what to do when we run into them."

Alana has a brother in the second grade, and, she said, she plans to share what she learned from DARE with him.

"I hope what I learned can help him out of bad situations," Alana said.

DARE provides police departments with a community outreach tool to let children know officers are not intimidating forces behind a badge, Artman said.

"The kids have learned that we are real people, too, and that we are actually really approachable," Artman said. "The kids know they can come to us for help now, which is definitely a good thing."