Kelowna RCMP make tough decision and end D.A.R.E. anti-drug program

The Kelowna RCMP will no longer be delivering a long-time anti-drug program in Kelowna schools.

RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon says redeploying the funding for the D.A.R.E. program was a tough decision.

A RCMP officer teaches the D.A.R.E. program full time, plus it uses other police resources.

McKinnon says his officers are feeling the pressure with call for service on the rise.

He says it comes down to priorities... what they have to do... and what would be nice to do.

D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Program, has been running in Kelowna schools for years and will come to an end on January 1st.

RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon says there do need to be some kind of drug awareness programs for the youth.

McKinnon says the RCMP will be delivering another anti-drug program called Blast Off in the near future.

Howard Alexander - Kelowna