Pubdate: Wed, 11 May 2011 Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Copyright: 2011 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Author: Dave Parsons KIDS NEED DRUG-EDUCATION PROGRAM I have been involved with DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for 21 years. I have seen the positive effects that DARE has had on our children. I have had hundreds of students tell me they refused a drug offer because of their DARE officer. DARE is a proactive prevention program. It teaches students decision-making skills. DARE is a 10-week program taught to fifth-or sixth-graders. It teaches students about consequences, peer pressure, ways to say no to offers, violence prevention, decision making, gangs, Internet safety, over-the-counter-/prescription-drug abuse, bullying and more. Who better to help our students make good decisions than a professional police officer, teaching in the classroom, equipped with the most effective prevention curriculum - DARE - that's on the market today? With the new medical-marijuana law taking effect in a couple of months, we need to be even more diligent with our prevention efforts. Instead of cutting the programs to save a dollar, let's support our kids with efforts of our DARE officers. Dave Parsons, Chandler The writer is Arizona DARE coordinator. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake