Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 Source: Castlegar News (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Castlegar News Contact: http://www.castlegarnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3613 Author: Steve Clement SUCCESSFUL? SAYS WHO? Re: "Date set for D.A.R.E. (Drug Addiction Resistance Education) tribute" - published Nov. 17 on castlegarnews.com It would be of interest to Castlegar readers to know on what basis you have determined the D.A.R.E. program to be "highly successful." The opinions of the RCMP members that are being paid to promote the effectiveness of their own program, does not provide any evidence that the program is actually accomplishing the goals that it upholds, namely, "working with school children to equip them with the information and skills they need to make safe and responsible choices," "As these children grow to be responsible citizens, they will lead healthier and more productive drug-free lives." It is interesting, how this program continues to exaggerate its proposed benefits to the liking of parents, teachers, and other organizations while expert critics, that have studied the populations of youth that have been DARE educated, have determined that it is ineffective. "Scientific evaluation studies have consistently shown that DARE is ineffective in reducing the use of alcohol and drugs and is sometimes even counterproductive -- worse than doing nothing. That's the conclusion of the U.S. General Accounting Office, 1 the U.S. Surgeon General, 2 the National Academy of Sciences, 3 and the U.S. Department of Education, 4 among many others. http://www.alcoholfacts.org/DARE.html Steve Clement Castlegar, BC - --------------------------- Ed. note The "successful" reference was based on personal experience with close to 10 D.A.R.E. grad events, and how the grads appeared to feel about the course. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt