Pubdate: Mon, 05 Aug 2002
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Sandra S. Bennett

DARE DEFAMED

In his July 31 letter, "Scare tactics ineffective," Robert Sharpe, a 
spokesman for the pro-legalization Lindesmith Center/Drug Policy Alliance, 
continues to repeat propaganda about DARE that was fabricated by pro-drug 
writer Stephen Glass for Rolling Stone and The New Republic magazines.

DARE sued Glass and both magazines. As part of the settlement, Glass was 
heavily fined and required to write a public apology. Unfortunately, though 
many newspapers had quoted Glass' anti-DARE articles, few bothered to carry 
the apology.

Most parents wanted to believe that DARE's 17 one-hour classes, taught in 
the fifth and sixth grades, would inoculate their children against drugs 
for life. Still others, often drug users themselves, did not want law 
enforcement interacting with their kids.

Meanwhile, on a daily basis, those 17 hours of drug-prevention education 
were being eroded by a steady stream of pro-drug messages in music, movies, 
magazines and the likes of MTV. Nevertheless, blame for not being good 
enough was affixed to DARE.

For long-lasting effect, the entire community must be involved in providing 
strong, visible support for a drug-free environment. This requires the 
media to stop regurgitating pro-legalization propaganda and do a better job 
of getting the medical scientific information to the public about why these 
substances are so dangerous.

Sandra S. Bennett

Portland
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