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D.A.R.E.  HAS ITS LIMITS

It's smart business to educate our kids about the risks of using drugs, thus making the intentions of Franklin patrolman William Piwtoratsky and the Home News Tribune's related editorial praise of his efforts laudable.

That aside, these important messages are best delivered by qualified health care professionals and counselors, not by uniformed police officers and D.A.R.E.  Ten- and 11-year-old kids will pretty much do whatever a cop tells them, including the recitation of anti-drug mantras.  Such cooperation makes parents smile but ignores that most kids of that age are not able to ask the tough questions to a police officer.

Questions like, "Why do you view marijuana as dangerous as alcohol?" "Why should my parents go to jail for a joint, when my friends' parents can drink alcohol daily?" "Why do I see other police officers smoking tobacco and using alcohol on their off-hours if being drug-free is so cool?" "Why do a lot of my friends get dosed with Ritalin, if being drug-free is the best for them?"

I would add that D.A.R.E.  makes no allowance for what kids should do if they turn out to be one of the 80 percent who at some point elect to experiment with drugs between the ages of 14-18.  They're sure not likely to talk to the police.  Combine this flawed message with ill-advised "zero-tolerance" attitudes in many school systems and vital, honest communication is sure to be thwarted.

STEPHEN HEATH

Speakers Bureau Member

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater FL