Pubdate: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 Source: Commercial Appeal (TN) Copyright: 2003 The Commercial Appeal Contact: http://www.gomemphis.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95 Author: Walter E. Crews, Director of Police Services, Memphis Police Department Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n021/a02.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) DARE IS ONE GOOD WEAPON IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS A Jan. 5 letter to the editor attacked the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, sponsored by the Memphis Police Department. It mentioned several notable individuals and entities that were critical of DARE. It concluded by saying my motivation for supporting DARE is my pursuit of taxpayer grant money. Without arguing the writer's point, I think it is important to identify current DARE successes, and to present current findings, not those that are dated. DARE aims at informing students of the harmful physical and emotional effects of drug use and abuse. The program seeks to build solid decision-making skills and problem-solving tactics, so students might better resist drug use and violence. Finally, DARE offers alternatives to drug use. Several positive effects of DARE are notable. The University of Akron released results recently of its evaluation of the new DARE curriculum. These findings show improvement in student decision-making skills drug refusal skills, and beliefs that drug use is socially inappropriate. The Memphis Police Department receives an annual $10,000 grant from the Center For Drug Free Schools to support this program. We fund the rest of the program with confiscated and seized drug money. DARE never has been, nor will ever be, a "godsend" to the police, as the writer said. It is merely another tool to help greatly troubled children reach well-adjusted adulthood. Walter E. Crews, Director of Police Services, Memphis Police Department - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake