Pubdate: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 Source: Times Record News (TX) Copyright: 2001 The E.W. Scripps Co. Contact: 1301 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301 Fax: (940)767-1741 Feedback: http://www.trnonline.com/opinions2/letters/form.shtml Website: http://www.trnonline.com/ Author: Jeff Hall EXPERIMENTAL DARE PROGRAM WON'T CHANGE LOCAL PROGRAMS Hoping to take advantage of new research, the national D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is looking at a different approach. A news release sent to D.A.R.E. officers and programs around the country states the nation's largest substance abuse prevention program will be testing a new substance abuse prevention curriculum in six U.S. cities. But here in the Wichita Falls area, the programs will continue as before. Electra Police Officer Cody Shaw, who heads up the D.A.R.E. program in the west Wichita County city, said Friday he is aware of the new curriculum, but hasn't gotten much information on it. "From my understanding it's not going to change my D.A.R.E. program," Shaw said. "What we have here now is effective and it's working. For more information, visit the following websites: http://www.dare-america.com, http://www.TexasDARE.net, and http://www.publicagenda.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens