Pubdate: Wed, 10 Sep 2003
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
Copyright: 2003 The Springfield News-Leader
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Author: Carl Smith

DARE: PROGRAM USELESS, POTENTIALLY RISKY

Re: Sgt. Greg Fels' Sept. 4 letter, "Program does make a difference."

Not one single study has proven the D.A.R.E. program to be any more 
effective in keeping kids from experimenting with drugs than kids who 
didn't go through the program. A couple of studies have actually shown a 
higher rate of use among the D.A.R.E. graduates.

Even Los Angeles, the city where the D.A.R.E. program was created, has 
dumped this expensive failure.

Sgt. Fels' anecdotal attempt to justify the D.A.R.E. program points out how 
useless and potentially dangerous the misinformation being given to young 
people is.

If anybody tries to give you a controlled substance, the only thing you 
should do is say "no." The D.A.R.E. graduate lauded by Sgt. Fels became a 
criminal when he took possession of the controlled substance. The second 
mistake the misinformed student made was putting his mother at risk by 
bringing a controlled substance into their house. This D.A.R.E.-induced 
foolish act could have landed the child in foster care, his mom in prison 
and the family's house and other possessions could have been seized for 
police profit.

There is no legal way to illegally possess a controlled substance. The 
police know this; just look at the number of arrests they make.

Sgt. Fels' letter proves that teachers belong in the classroom and police 
belong on the streets catching real criminals.

Carl Smith, Ozark
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart