Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jul 2001 Source: Waukesha Freeman (WI) Copyright: 2001 The Waukesha Freeman Contact: (262) 542-8259 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/770 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) DARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, NOT PREVENT Recently your paper had an editorial trashing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. I used the word "trash" because that is exactly what you did. Every year DARE comes under attack. The reason it comes under attack is because individuals who launch the attack against the program don't understand what the program is about. Unfortunately the media takes the lead, yet they fail to explore what exactly DARE was created to do. Anybody who believes that the DARE program is designed to stop kids from using alcohol or drugs has their head buried in the sand. There is no program known to man or woman that can do that. The DARE program is designed to educate our youth regarding alcohol and controlled substances. It is designed to give them a better understanding of the dangers these substances pose. The definition of success that the media seems to use is that kids should stop using alcohol or abusing drugs. If that is your definition of success, then I can list a litany of programs that should be discontinued. I have been at literally hundreds of DARE graduations. I have seen thousands of DARE students. I have never seen a reporter from your paper at any DARE graduation. I see reporters daily reporting on alcohol-related crashes. I see reporters daily covering crime scenes where drugs and alcohol are involved. I see reporters at shootings where bodies are scattered and bullet casings are present. Perhaps next time you may want to take some time to learn about the DARE program and actually go to a DARE graduation. DARE does what it is designed to do. It needs improvement and it needs to work in conjunction with other programs in the community, but it educates our kids regarding alcohol and drugs. I am not going to sit back and cross my fingers and hope these kids get this information from some other source. I have seen what can happen when we let that occur. My children have gone through DARE. I will support any program that educates kids regarding the dangers of alcohol abuse and drug abuse, particularly some of the new drugs that are making their presence known. It seems to me you spend more time complaining about a program than finding out what it does. Spend a few minutes to see what DARE does. It is more than simply "handing out certificates and diplomas." DARE is popular for many reasons. Just speak to a parent whose son or daughter has gone through the program. Of course, that may require you to actually get out in the community and find out what DARE is doing. Paul E. Bucher, district attorney Waukesha County - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager