Pubdate: Fri, 02 Aug 2002
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Korky Day

LOVE BETTER THAN DARE

Parksville Letter-writer Heather Sparrow means well, but the allegedly 
anti-drug programme DARE in effect dares kids to try psychoactive drugs. 
(The News, July 9.)

She doesn't realize how a programme which touches her emotionally fails to 
equally affect dare-devil teens. Face the statistics: DARE fails. The 
programme's cops try to scare kids into refraining from illegal drugs. That 
makes those drugs more appealing to some alienated youth. Many youngsters 
want to prove themselves brave by 'beating the odds' that they learn about 
in DARE. Many with low self-esteem also feel they deserve the misery that 
they learn accompanies the artificial thrill of dope.

What made life bearable for me as an adolescent was music and dancing. Let 
the kids dance at least weekly.

Parents wanting to protect their children must first realize that the more 
you show your child love, the less they are driven to rebel or to harm 
themselves. Start with all the breastfeeding they need. Trying to heal the 
society-wide trauma of bottle-feeding, pacifiers, premature weaning, and 
premature separation is almost impossible. It haunts me, you, and them, 
usually unnoticed in the subconscious mind.

Second, do you model escapism with love-substitutes such as legal drugs 
(alcohol, nicotine, caffeine), dope from your shrink, forced drugging 
(Ritalin), or sick food?

Also, do you live vicariously, through television, movies, pornography, or 
watching sport? Are your days shallow and meaningless, consumed with 
shopaholism, workaholism, cars, quarreling, gambling, gossip, or wishful 
thinking such as religion?

Korky Day
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom