Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/bp/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Author: Howard Mozel

STUDY BOLSTERS DARE PROGRAM

Report Shows That Participants Are Five Times Less Likely To Smoke

Police officers who teach the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) 
program have long relied on anecdotal evidence to measure its success. Now 
a new study helps prove what they've always believed.

True, the report by the Washington-based Journal of the National Medical 
Association (NMA) focuses only on smoking, but its results still bolster 
the view that DARE in fact does have a positive impact on its young 
participants.

The study found that students who completed the DARE program were five 
times less likely to start smoking, compared to youngsters who did not 
participate. Researchers also found a direct correlation between knowledge 
about the risks of smoking and increases in smoking avoidance.

"This study validates what DARE instructors, DARE graduates and their 
parents have known for years -- DARE works," says DARE America President 
Glenn Levant. "Through DARE's comprehensive curriculum, students are armed 
with the tools needed to reject destructive behaviours such as smoking, 
drinking and taking drugs."

The 17-week DARE program -- presented to all Grade 6 students with both 
school boards in Halton -- teaches youth about self esteem and will power 
in refusing offers of drugs and alcohol, options how to deal with the 
stress of peer pressure and means to solve problems without resorting to 
violence. This year alone, more than 36 million children in 55 countries 
were enrolled in DARE.

Quantifying the fact that the program works is not about ego, says Halton 
Regional Police education services co-ordinator Sgt. Joe Prasad, but is 
important for several very pragmatic reasons.

First, Prasad says some hard evidence will help fundraisers when they 
approach area service clubs and other groups for financial contributions to 
help keep Halton's $500,000 DARE program up and running. When someone asks 
about supporting studies -- as they invariably do, says Prasad -- the NMA's 
smoking findings will be invaluable.

Earlier this year, the Halton public and Catholic school boards withdrew 
their financial support for the program citing budget restraints."We need 
to get the support behind us," said Prasad.

The study results can likewise be offered to parents, who are justifiably 
concerned about their children, but want at least some assurances that DARE 
actually works. (Prasad said one parent is so impressed with the program 
they offered a percentage of their company's sales to DARE.)

That said, Prasad has no illusions that every child will be steered away 
from smoking, drugs and violence -- just as driving instructors know it's 
impossible that none of their students will ever get into an accident.

"We hope they will have learned from this and take it through their adult 
life, but we have to be practical," he said. "Still, it's incumbent on us 
to teach children these life skills. Society will be better for that."

DARE America, which controls the program globally, will likely change its 
curriculum starting with the September 2003 school year and Canada is 
expected to follow suit. Rather than one 17-week program, it might become 
three blocks spread over three grades, the last one in Grade 9. (Prasad 
said he's not certain if Canada will also adopt the U.S. model of teaching 
DARE starting in Grade 5 rather than Grade 6.)

One aspect that won't change, said Prasad, is that DARE will continue to be 
taught only by police officers, since -- in addition to the anti-drug 
message -- the program affords children the chance to see officers up close 
and de-mystified.

"We have to be proactive," said Prasad. "If not, all we're doing is chasing 
our tails as youths go in and out of the (legal) system."

Prasad is adamant that one important factor in the quality of life in any 
community is crime, or the lack thereof. If officers can head bad behaviour 
off at the pass, all the better, he said. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth