Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2007
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2007 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://desmoinesregister.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Lisa Rossi, Register Ames Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DODD: KIDS SHOULD HEAR DRUG WARNINGS EARLIER

Democratic presidential contender Chris Dodd said Monday that he 
thinks children should hear warnings about the dangers of drugs as 
early as first grade.

His comments on expanding drug education came after an Urbandale teen 
told Dodd she is troubled that she knows a lot of people who use or 
have used methamphetamine, including her brother.

Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, held a campaign discussion 
about policies to help women and families at the House of Mercy, 
which provides drug rehabilitation and other services for women in Des Moines.

"Intervening early with this, I think, is critical," he said of drug 
education, adding that it should be age-appropriate. "I wouldn't have 
thought so a few years ago, but we're kidding ourselves if we pretend 
that children at an early age are not aware of more that's going on 
than we think."

Maribeth Savage, 16, attended the campaign event with a teacher and 
some of her classmates from Metro West Learning Academy, an 
alternative high school in Grimes.

She told Dodd that she was exposed to Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education, or D.A.R.E., only in fifth grade, but that students should 
receive that education at every grade level. She also said more teens 
should see the graphic messages about the dangers of methamphetamine 
that she's seen crop up on public service announcements.

"I've seen so many of my friends ruin lives because they are doing 
meth," she said to Dodd. "I know a lot of people that do it."

Dodd said even though people have complained that the D.A.R.E. 
program has not been as thorough as possible, the program is not a 
bad idea. It should be presented earlier to younger children, he said.

Michael Lien, a regional director for D.A.R.E., said the majority of 
D.A.R.E. officers are placed in fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms.

He said lower grade levels don't get as much time with D.A.R.E. 
officers because of a lack of federal money and increasing pressure 
on teachers to use classroom time for testing.

The issue of how to teach young children about the dangers of drugs 
has been a source of debate within the organization, Lien said.

"Senator Dodd is on base with it, and yet it's not an easy 
conclusion," he said.

Lien said the organization considered teaching elementary school 
students about methamphetamine but ultimately decided against it.

"We, as a company, feel it's not age-appropriate," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake