Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jul 2002
Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL)
Copyright: 2002 Times Daily
Contact:  http://www.timesdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

NO SCARE TACTICS

To the Editor:

Tuscumbia educators need to consider that good intentions are no substitute 
for effective anti-drug education. Every independent, methodologically 
sound evaluation of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program has found 
it to be either ineffective or counterproductive.

The scare tactics used do more harm than good. Students who realize they 
are being lied to about marijuana often make the mistake of assuming that 
harder drugs, like heroin, are relatively harmless as well. This is a 
recipe for disaster.

Drug education programs must be reality-based or they may backfire when 
kids are inevitably exposed to drug use among their peers. Minimizing drug 
use requires strategies based on proven effectiveness, not "feel good" 
programs that please parents, educators and police.

Robert Sharpe, MPA, program officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager