COUNTYWIDE : Mascots Counsel Children Bilingually

Skippy the Fox, Spike the Dragon, and Wise Owl Mike, mascots for the county’s Drug Use Is Life Abuse program, have turned bilingual and are bringing their anti-drug message to young children who primarily speak Spanish.

Free From Drugs, the county’s drug education program for grades kindergarten through three, kicked off its new Spanish-language program Tuesday at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Santa Ana with balloons, a high school band and several school and county officials, including the program’s founder, Sheriff Brad Gates.

About 170 children delighted in the antics of the creatures, who sang a rap song on the dangers of drugs. They listened intently to Sheriff’s Deputy Gary Tinoco as he explained the difference between medicines prescribed by doctors and drugs illegally obtained in the streets.

The children raised their hands, eager to take part in the lesson that emphasizes self-esteem. When asked what to say to someone who asks them to use drugs, they all shouted, “No!”

Tinoco, who has taught the program for two years in English, said he thought it was great that the program would now reach “forgotten” children.

“I see myself when I look at them,” said Tinoco. “When I was in kindergarten, no one came to talk with me in Spanish.”

Principal Lupe O’Leary agreed that the program would have a positive impact at her school, where about 600 of the 845 children have limited English skills.

“I think the program is wonderful. The response today was very good. It’s clear (the children) could understand the difference between good and bad,” O’Leary said.

Drug Use Is Life Abuse, founded in 1987, is a support group of the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council that seeks to educate youth, employers and the community about the dangers of drug use.

The program is aimed mostly at elementary school children through fun-filled lessons taught by sheriff’s deputies. Positively kNOw Drugs, the companion program for grades four to six, was translated into Spanish last year.