Pubdate: Sat, 01 Dec 2001 Source: Athens Banner-Herald (GA) Copyright: 2001 Athens Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.onlineathens.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1535 Author: Dick Mendenhall Note: Dick Mendenhall is a journalist and public relations professional. D.A.R.E. TO HELP OUR SCHOOL KIDS MAKE IT Sheriff Ira Edwards is hoping the Athens-Clarke County Commission will reverse its decision of last June and resume budgeting for the county's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. Me too. By a vote of 7 to 3, the commission cut off its $45,000 funding in the wake of a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office that "no evidence exists that D.A.R.E. keeps kids off drugs." The sheriff disputes the numbers involved and declares they "do not mean anything." As UGA professor and noted statistics expert Doug Bachtel often says, "There are lies ... and then there are damned lies." National D.A.R.E. Executive Director Glenn Levant adds: "Scientists tell you that bumblebees can't fly, but we know better." D.A.R.E. happens to be the leading drug prevention program in the world. It has been in Athens since 1989, and recently was placed under the sheriff's department to go into elementary and middle schools. The objective is to give kids an awareness of the harmful effects of drugs. District 2 Commissioner Harry Sims points out that it goes further than that. Sims was quoted in this newspaper last Tuesday that D.A.R.E. "enhances problem-solving skills and teaches children to stay away from violence." It also exposes youngsters to law enforcement officers on a regular positive basis. I don't know how many kids pay real attention, genuinely internalize and actually avoid drugs and violence as a result of hearing the D.A.R.E. message. But it's certainly better than no message at all. A big part of what the sheriff wants to do is to develop a tracking system to show the long-term effects of the program in Clarke County. Obviously, Athens continues to have a drug problem among younger as well as older people. A recent article by Athens Banner-Herald staff writer Kate Carter headlined "Drug culture persists in A-C high schools" (Athens Banner-Herald, Nov. 26) reported that the Clarke County School District is seriously considering drug dog searching and random drug testing for students next fall. Schools Superintendent Lewis Holloway states: "We've got significant concern about drugs." Tack on the fact that our county jail is seriously overcrowded, with 60 to 70 percent of the crimes being drug related. "We can't just sweep this under the rug," Edwards points out. Most of the money needed locally for D.A.R.E. goes for training, materials and vehicle upkeep. The governor's office is buying into the program to the tune of $15,000. Another $11,000 or so is coming from the Clarke County School District. Financial support from the public is also needed -- unless the county commission dares to come through once more. I can't believe that they would shoot it down a second time. After all, what is a mere $45,000 to a government that's been spending zillions on things like bike transportation, house moving and endless consultants? - --- MAP posted-by: Beth