Pubdate: Sat, 21 Sep 2002
Source: Marietta Daily Journal (GA)
Copyright: 2002 The Marietta Daily Journal.
Contact:  http://www.mdjonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1904
Author: Laura Susan Bamberg

POLICE BUCK TREND, RESTART DARE

POWDER SPRINGS - The city's police department is reinstating its DARE 
program this year after a 10-year absence, and police officials say they 
give no credence to studies that say it's ineffective.

"I'm aware people say it's harmful, but I don't believe it," Commander Mark 
Weaver said. "It's one of the best programs out there. There's no evidence 
to substantiate that."

Officer Erika Bailey recently returned from a two-week Drugs and Alcohol 
Resistance Education training and agreed with Weaver in that the program 
has proven to be successful.

"I strongly disagree with studies saying the program actually gets kids to 
use drugs," Bailey said. "I don't know all the statistics, but I do know 
the percentages of alcohol, tobacco and drug use among young people are the 
lowest they've been since 1994."

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a study of 81 
school districts in 11 states, and discovered programs like DARE may be 
prevalent, but a UNC professor said last month there is "little or no data 
to show that they have proven to be effective."

A spate of cities across the nation have recently ended their DARE programs 
including Cincinnati, Seattle, Milwaukee and Houston.

Dr. Denise Hallfors, a research associate professor of maternal and child 
health at UNC, said the study found a police officer or teacher telling 
students not to do drugs doesn't cut it.

According to Bailey and Weaver, however, local school systems have found 
the opposite to be true.

"Marietta and Austell have strong programs," Bailey said. Weaver seconded 
that by adding that both students and parents can relate to the program.

The city decided to bring DARE back when the use of alcohol, tobacco and 
recreational drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy increased in Powder Springs.

"They're big in Powder Springs right now, just like they are in Cobb County 
and the rest of metro Atlanta," Bailey said.

Weaver and Bailey said the police department is hoping to combat that by 
infiltrating elementary schools, especially fifth grade classes.

"We're really excited about it," Bailey said. "We hope this starts a 
wildfire in Cobb County."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart