Pubdate: Fri, 15 May 2009
Source: Maui News, The (HI)
Copyright: 2009 The Maui News
Contact:  http://www.mauinews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259
Author: Beverly Johnsen

STUDIES DOCUMENT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF DARE

In his May 9 letter in support of the DARE program, Analu Okimoto 
states: "There is no research data to claim its ineffectiveness, so 
claims as such are pointless." This statement is simply not true.

A Google search on "DARE program effectiveness" will lead you to a 
great deal of scientific research, published in peer-reviewed 
journals, whose data demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the program. 
Research has shown over and over again that DARE does not prevent 
smoking, drinking or drug use, let alone save lives.

That's why the U.S. surgeon general, the U.S. General Accounting 
Office and the U.S. Department of Education, among others, have 
declared the program "ineffective." I find it telling that the 
national DARE organization doesn't answer its critics with evidence 
of the program's effectiveness, but instead tries to suppress 
publication of scientific and general articles about its ineffectiveness.

I can understand that people who have invested their time and energy 
in the DARE program would be reluctant to admit that it doesn't work, 
and of course no one wants to turn down available funding, but it's 
time to put our ever-shrinking resources into something more productive.

Beverly Johnsen

Lahaina
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom