Pubdate: Fri, 04 Apr 2003
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

DARE DOESN'T WORK

Editor:

The importance of parental involvement in reducing adolescent drug use 
cannot be overstated.

School-based extracurricular activities have also been shown to reduce drug 
use. They keep kids busy during the hours they're most likely to get into 
trouble.

Unfortunately, the most popular recreational drug and the one most closely 
associated with violent behavior is often overlooked by parents. That drug 
is alcohol and it takes more lives each year than all illegal drugs 
combined. Alcohol may be legal, but it's still the number one drug problem.

For decades, drug education has been dominated by sensationalist programs 
such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education. While Canadian schools are just 
beginning to implement DARE, American schools are dropping it.

Independent evaluations of DARE have found the program to be either 
ineffective or counterproductive. The scare tactics used do more harm than 
good.

Students who realize they've been lied to about marijuana often make the 
mistake of assuming harder drugs, such as heroin, are relatively harmless, 
too. This is a recipe for disaster.

Drug education programs must be reality-based or they may backfire when 
kids are inevitably exposed to drug use among their peers.

Robert Sharpe, MPA Program officer, Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl