Pubdate: Tue, 26 Mar 2002
Source: Advocate, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Advocate, Capital City Press
Contact:  http://www.theadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2

DON'T RESTORE DARE FUNDS

The Foster administration has suggested cutting $3 million out of next 
year's state budget for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program.

Carried out locally by sheriff's deputies, the program teaches elementary 
school children to resist peer pressure to try illegal drugs or alcohol.

The program has some merit. DARE lets children meet law enforcement 
officers on a friendly basis, and most parents like it. The program is a 
great community relations tool. Unfortunately, DARE has not been an 
effective tool in reducing marijuana, alcohol and nicotine use among school 
children.

A 2001 study by the U.S. surgeon general concluded that DARE provides 
little or no deterrence in substance use. Citing the lack of scientific 
proof of the program's effectiveness, the U.S. Department of Education also 
stopped funding DARE in 2000.

Because of its popularity, communities should be given the opportunity to 
continue DARE funding at the local level. Doing so would provide more local 
accountability in communities that decided to keep it. The state should not 
force all taxpayers to keep funding a program that has shown little 
effectiveness.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens