Pubdate: Wed, 26 Feb 2003
Source: Sherwood Park News (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 Sherwood Park News
Contact:  http://www.bowesnet.com/spnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1730
Author: Trevor Houlahan

LET KIDS DECIDE ABOUT DRUGS

Re: Officer honoured for bringing DARE to Canada

Kevin Graham says critics are unaccepting of DARE either because they would 
rather push their own drug prevention program or because people have 
expected far too much of it.

"Everybody is wanting DARE to be the silver bullet, but it never will be"-- 
Graham.

At the very least, DARE has been great to increase the contact between 
police and the community, he says.

I am one of the critics of DARE and I don't expect it to be a silver 
bullet, but it should at least be able to show that it prevents some kids 
from using dope later in life, it doesn't.

As a matter of fact some studies suggest that certain groups of kids who 
have DARE training are actually more likely to use illicit drugs later in life.

If Mr. Graham thinks being able to show some measure of success is asking 
to much of a program, I sure wish I could have his job. It really is funny 
how the police get more money for themselves through the war on some drugs.

If the drug rate starts to climb the cops can get more money to try and 
fight the drugs.

If the drug use rate goes down the cops need more money to keep doing the 
good work that has driven the usage rates down. All the while they keep 
getting more money and more peoples lives are ruined by prohibition.

How about this, we end prohibition of all drugs and leave the education of 
the children to the people that know and care about the children the most 
- -- their parents.

As for the grown adults who are free to make up their own mind as to what 
they want to put into their bodies, well, they should be left the hell alone.

If I need contact between a cop and myself, I'll go to Tim Hortons.

Otherwise, they can just keep on keeping on.

Trevor Houlahan

Garson, Ontario
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens