Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jan 2003
Source: Commercial Appeal (TN)
Copyright: 2003 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.gomemphis.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: John McLean
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2330/a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

DARE'S EFFECT ON DRUG ABUSE OPEN TO QUESTION

Your Dec. 26 article "Effort foils drugs, say kids, cops who DARE" was 
little more than a propaganda piece for the program. The effectiveness of 
the $700 million taxpayer-fund ed program is probably not best determined 
by small children or by policemen who depend on DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education) for their livelihoods.

You let Memphis Police Director Walter Crews get away with an accusation 
that studies that reveal DARE's failure were conducted by drug policy 
reform organizations. The most well-publicized study on this subject was 
conducted by the U. S. Department of Justice. Although it showed that DARE 
increased self-esteem and improved attitudes toward police, it found that 
DARE has no measurable effect on drug abuse.

Other people and groups that speak out against DARE include the Surgeon 
General of the United States, the National Academy of Sciences, the mayor 
of Salt Lake City and, most important, the head of DARE's scientific 
advisory panel, Harold Kleber.

DARE is not the godsend police attempt to portray; it is more accurately a 
publicly funded disaster. It is Crews who is addicted - to taxpayer money.

John McLean, Memphis
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager