Pubdate: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 Source: Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL) Copyright: 2007 The Ledger Contact: http://www.theledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) DARE TO CUT D.A.R.E.? Florida Budget Cuts Few adults, particularly parents, would question the need for schools to offer programs educating children and teens about the dangers of drugs. But it may be time to end, at least for now, the approach long embraced by Florida officials. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which began almost a quarter-century ago in Los Angeles, is widely used in schools in our region and around the nation. Typically, police officers are trained to talk to children about avoiding the illegal use of drugs and involvement in gangs. But, in a telling move, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is asking the state to end the agency's participation in the program. FDLE officials have suggested cutting $376,362 for the anti-drug program from its yearly appropriation. The money is currently used to fund a D.A.R.E. training program for deputies and police officers. With the state facing a $1.5 billion shortfall, decision makers at the FDLE are forced to reduce expenses and focus on essential services. D.A.R.E. is no longer deemed a priority. The decision follows years of studies - including one last year by the Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability - questioning the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, an investigation agency for Congress, concluded the same in 2003, stating that D.A.R.E. had "no statistically significant long-term effect on preventing illicit drug use." Similar assessments have been made in recent years by the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Academy of Sciences. None of these entities has a predisposition to dismiss anti-drug programs as an inefficient use of tax dollars. FDLE officials have supported the program for years, certainly would welcome any help they could get in curbing drug abuse and dealing. Larry Stripling, president of the Florida D.A.R.E. Officers Association and a Martin County Sheriff's Office deputy, said if the cut is made, the association could take over training that would be eliminated by the FDLE budget cut. The association could use money from government grants and private donations, he said, to fund the training. D.A.R.E. advocates contend the long-running criticism is based on outdated research. They say key changes have been made in the program. But the continuing loss of support indicates that it's time to step back and retool the program. Perhaps a model can be found in the Florida's widely praised anti-smoking program for teens, credited with reducing smoking rates among young people. Besides warning about the health risks, the campaign focuses on the ways that tobacco companies manipulate young people - an argument that seems to capture the attention of teens protective of their independence. Make no mistake: Florida schools need an aggressive program to fight drugs and gangs. But D.A.R.E., it appears, is no longer the daring initiative it was. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman