The Portage la Prairie R.C.M.P. are bringing back the D.A.R.E. Program. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and is an internationally recognized project that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, gang membership and violent behaviour in youth. R.C.M.P. Spokesperson Constable Shannon Neff says it is geared toward grade 6 students, teaching them how to make healthy choices within their lives in regard to drugs or violence.

D.A.R.E. is returning to the Central Plains after being discontinued a few years ago. The ten week program will initially be in place in three schools -- Oakville, North Memorial and Yellowquill. Neff would like to see it expand to other schools across the central plains in the future. The program began this week and will continue into mid-May.