Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2000 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: 143 S Main, Salt Lake City UT 84111 Fax: (801)257-8950 Website: http://www.sltrib.com/ Forum: http://www.sltrib.com/tribtalk/ Author: Wayne Wilson Note: Wayne Wilson is secretary and publisher of Humanists of Utah, a chapter of the American Humanist Association. ANDERSON'S RIGHT ABOUT DARE I am pleased that Mayor Rocky Anderson decided to discontinue funding the DARE program. His data confirm suspicions I have held since my daughters went through the program. I was dismayed at the information, or rather lack of information, that they received as I reviewed their work. Discussions with my daughters revealed that no distinctions were made among various substances of abuse: beer was the same as cocaine, marijuana on the same level with heroin. I set up a little scenario for each of my daughters and they both responded the same way. I noted that soon they would be attending a party and it would come to their attention that a group of young people in the corner were drinking and perhaps smoking a few joints. I asked my children to describe these people to me, what these imbibers looked like? How were they acting? The replies were that these misguided youths must be moaning, groaning, vomiting, and wallowing on the floor in pain. When I suggested that on the contrary, they would probably be laughing and having a better time than anyone else at the venue my daughters became confused. How is it possible? If drinking, smoking and taking drugs is "evil, wicked, mean, and nasty," then how can it be fun? I asked each of my daughters why people would ever participate with these recreational substances. Neither had an answer. When I suggested that perhaps it might be fun they became very perplexed. At this point I slammed on the brakes and did a sharp U-turn. I made it very clear that I do not want them taking recreational drugs, over-indulging in alcohol and that I fully support the stated goals of DARE. DARE is a failure because it distorts and/or ignores the truth. Elementary schoolchildren move on to middle and high school, and they eventually encounter drugs and alcohol. They must make their own decisions based on the information they have received from their families, churches and schools. What do they do when that information is strikingly at odds with what they experience with their own senses? They naively believe that substances as harmful as recreational drugs cannot be pleasant at first. When their eyes and ears tell them differently, it is a short step to actual experimentation. The initial euphoria of the first high is further evidence that they have been misled by their parents and teachers. I hope Mayor Anderson can find an effective anti-drug program for our youth that will DARE to tell the truth. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager