Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jul 2006
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
Copyright: 2006 The Springfield News-Leader
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

MOTORCYCLES KEEP DARE RUNNING

Annual Ride Is The Only Source Of Funds For County's Drug-Awareness Program.

Greene County's DARE program is kept afloat by the rev  of motorcycle engines.

On Sunday, a caravan about 400 strong is expected to  roar out of 
town for the fifth annual DARE to Ride.

"When everyone fires up to leave, it's just awesome,"  said Greene 
County Sheriff Jack Merritt, who started  the ride his first year in office.

The county's program is completely funded by the  fundraiser. Since 
2002, riders have raised $20,686 for  the Greene County Drug Abuse 
Resistance Education  program and Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield.

Registration is to begin at 8 a.m. and costs $15 a  rider, $20 a 
couple or $20 per Jeep. The ride to Marble  Falls, Ark., kicks off at 
10 a.m. Proceeds are split  evenly between the two organizations.

Merritt launched the ride after he was elected and  promised to keep 
DARE despite lack of funds.

Founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, DARE is a police  officer-led series 
of classroom lessons that teaches  children how to resist peer 
pressure and live drug-free  lives.

Ron Moore, DARE instructor with the Greene County  Sheriff's 
Department, said the program has been  whittled down from 17 to 10 
weeks over the years.

For 10 weeks, Moore visits fifth-grade students in the  county and 
teaches them about substance abuse and how  to deal with peer 
pressure. He also brings in high  school role models, such as 
athletes and stellar  students, to discuss how they live drug-free.

"We talk about three gateway drugs: alcohol, tobacco  and marijuana," 
Moore said. "Those are the ones that  can be found in our homes, so 
those are the ones we  discuss."

Springfield has three DARE officers who visit  classrooms throughout 
the year, said Sgt. Steve Licis,  who oversees the Springfield program.

"It's basically about prevention, and the more we can  teach 
prevention, hopefully the less criminal activity  in the future," Licis said.

A DARE officer for 15 years, Moore says that if funding  continues to 
decline, substance abuse could increase.  He pointed to a recent 
study that found teen smoking is  up for the first time in years.

"It's a shame they have taken away these monies and now  these 
programs are suffering and it's beginning to show  up in our youth," Moore said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman