Pubdate: Fri, 28 Nov 2003
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Howard J. Wooldridge

DARE PROGRAM HAS ITS FLAWS

Editor: As a retired police officer, my area of expertise is law 
enforcement. I am sure that RCMP Cpl. Tomalty is also well-versed in his 
chosen career.

DARE has been shown over and over again to have no meaningful influence on 
whether a teenager uses drugs, legal or illegal. DARE does not give 
students the information they need to make a wise choice not to do drugs, 
rather the simplistic - drugs are bad, don't do drugs. DARE lumps cannabis 
in with heroin as deadly substances.

Soon after graduation, students figure out that wasn't exactly the truth. 
And from there, they often reject the whole package.

Health professionals should be brought in to teach kids about drugs, not 
officers trained to detect and arrest law breakers. Police officer - 
citizen contact is better done by sponsoring athletic events, pitting 
officers and students. That is what we did in Michigan.

Howard J. Wooldridge,

Dallas, Texas
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens