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Sgt. Deluca looks to LEAD kids away from drugs, alcohol and violence

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School Resource Officer for Rochester Middle School Anthony Deluca with his recently won award, (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - When Rochester Police Sgt. Anthony Deluca teaches his sixth-grade LEAD class about the dangers of drugs and alcohol he often sees a disturbing dichotomy.

"I'm teaching these sixth-grade kids and I see some that have no idea what I'm talking about," he said today. "And I see others who know exactly what I'm talking about. So I'm seeing both of these issues. Some of these kids have a good knowledge about drugs, they see it at home. Sadly I see both."

Deluca, who heads up the LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program for Rochester Schools, was named LEAD Instructor of the Year for the State of New Hampshire, Rochester Police announced on Monday.

The award was presented to him for being the instructor that has had the most impact on the youth he teaches. Deluca instructs more than 300 students during a 10-lesson plans course that seeks to reduce bullying, violence and drug use among Rochester's youth.

He heads up the Rochester LEAD team, which includes School Resource Officers Frank Porfido, who teaches third-graders; and Andy Jackson at Spaulding High, comprising some 1,000 students the three interact with every year.

Deluca was also recognized as the Instructor of the Month in September 2017.

The first six or seven lessons concentrate on good decision making and dealing with peer pressure, he said.

"Then after that we'll go over the dangers of drugs and alcohol," he said.

He said one of the biggest concerns he has now is with New Hampshire's legalization of medical cannabis and Maine going one step further with legalization of recreational cannabis, many of his students will comment they have parents or other family members who use regularly.

"We talk about the legalizing of marijuana in many states, but juvenile brains cannot handle marijuana," Deluca said. "There are all sorts of developmental dangers associated with this drug, especially until the age of 25, developmental, emotional. Plus they're going through puberty."

LEAD took the place of the former DARE program and has proved superior in that is scientifically backed and tracks data, Deluca said.

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