MAKE GOOD CHOICES — Wintersville Police Chief Art Fowler Jr. speaks to fifth-grade students at Indian Creek Middle School as part of the annual Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Fowler acts as DARE officer and is leading a 10-week course to help students identify the dangers of addiction and make positive decisions. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Indian Creek Middle School students are learning the facts about substance abuse and making good decisions with the latest incarnation of the Drug Abuse Resistance Program.

Wintersville Police Chief Art Fowler Jr. returned for his 19th year as DARE officer and was on hand at ICMS for his weekly discussions with fifth-graders, with the latest session including videos on the effects of drug abuse from past to present times.

The first video followed the life of a young woman addicted to heroin during the 1950s, but the story was not much different from people impacted by crack, heroin and meth today. The girl sold drugs and eventually sought rehabilitation.

Tales involved people who fell into a life of crime to support their expensive habits, which could run well into the thousands of dollars. According to the documentaries, the addiction to crack results in a quick rush of dopamine and leads to a significant high, then the user falls into a depression and craves more of the drug.

With cocaine being an $80-billion-a-year illegal industry, addicts find a multitude of ways to support their usage and risk their lives.

“It consumes you,” Fowler said. “All you want is to get that next drug.”

He added that stress may sometimes lead to drug use while some people smoke cigarettes, but nicotine was not a good option due to expense and ramifications upon their health. The best solution is to find a positive outlet.

“I like to hunt, fish, listen to music and play video games with my son,” he said. “We all do things to alleviate stress.”

He questioned students about their outlets, with some agreeing that they liked to play videos and use stress toys to calm down.

Fowler added that the program originated in the sixth grade when he first started on the department, and it has made a difference.

“Most of these kids know someone with an addiction, and most of what I teach are things they’ve already seen outside of school. I just try to give them the facts to not make the same choices.”

He began the 10-week program in January and will conclude with a DARE graduation this spring. Students will write an essay on what they have learned and make a pledge to not do drugs.