Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jul 2000
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2000 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  143 S Main, Salt Lake City UT 84111
Fax: (801)257-8950
Website: http://www.sltrib.com/
Forum: http://www.sltrib.com/tribtalk/
Author: Rebecca Walsh

ANDERSON PULLS PLUG ON DARE

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has already decided to stop
funding and providing police officers for DARE beginning this fall.

No more ribbons, bumper stickers or oversized black T-shirts. No
discussion.

Still, Anderson and his staff prepared a slide show and fact sheet and
weathered a small crowd of indignant PTA presidents, parents and
program employees in a futile effort to convince City Council members
Tuesday night that he is doing the right thing.

"This is not about sentimentality. It's not about making us feel
good. It's not about asking our kids what makes them feel good after
they graduate from DARE," he said. "It's about science. It's about
results. DARE is clearly not the answer, and we need to face up to
it."

He has collected a hefty pile of studies to back him up. In Utah,
Anderson notes, the Centers for Disease Control found marijuana use
among teens had increased from 7 percent to 11 percent since 1991 and
cocaine use went up from 5 percent to 7 percent. And use of ecstasy
among Salt Lake City 12th-graders increased 56 percent in one year
from 1998 to 1999. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, the
mayor insists, isn't working.

Others challenged his hypothesis.

"I don't have any statistics for you," acknowledged Kathy Stewart,
president of DARE Officers. "Our strongest numbers are the numbers
that don't show up."

DARE coordinator Tibby Milne loosely cited studies that prove DARE
prevents substance abuse, creates stronger families and makes
communities safer. In Salt Lake City, "10,000 [students'] lives are
touched on a daily basis" by DARE, she said.

And Leslie Elkins, a fifth-grader who recently graduated from DARE,
said: "It will help me make good decisions as I grow up." The
17-year-old brain-child of former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl
Gates, DARE dispatches police officers to elementary and junior high
schools to teach children how to "say no" and resolve conflict.

Since 1987, Salt Lake City police officers have traveled to more than
30 schools for 17, one-hour sessions a year. Salt Lake City spends
$289,000 a year on the program. But no more.

Anderson sent Salt Lake City School Board members the same information
he presented to council members. And he has notified Salt Lake City
School District Superintendent Darline Robles that the DARE officers
and money are at an end.

Tuesday night, Anderson suggested several other drug-prevention
programs. He expects school district leaders to come up with a
replacement.

Police Chief Mac Connole supports the mayor's decision. "This was
supposed to be a partnership," Connole said. "But at some point, the
partnership fell off. We contribute the officers and the materials.
They contribute the children. That's the partnership. Somewhere, the
other partner has to step up to the plate."

Anderson's decision angered at least one school board member. Karen
Derrick says Anderson is pulling the "rug out from under us."

Council members asked the mayor to slow down.

"It might be acting a bit precipitously to pull the plug on DARE in
September if it's the only thing we have now," said Councilman Tom
Rogan.

"That's fast. That's like tomorrow," said Councilman Keith
Christensen. "I don't wish to have anything drop through the cracks."

But Anderson says waiting only will sacrifice another group of kids to
an ineffective program. And, he promises, alternative programs will
not take long to start. "Getting rid of DARE is the first step.
Getting a program that works is the next," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens