Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 Source: Pipestone Flyer (CN AB) Copyright: 2005, Pipestone Publishing, Millet, Alberta Contact: http://www.pipestoneflyer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3736 Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n646/a03.html Note: Title abstracted from letter by MAP Editor GOOD INTENTIONS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EFFECTIVE DRUG EDUCATION Dear Editor, Please consider publishing the following brief letter: Your Apr. 20th editorial offered excellent advice on preventing adolescent drug use. The importance of parental involvement in reducing drug use cannot be overstated. School-based extracurricular activities also have been shown to reduce use. They keep kids busy during the hours they're most likely to get into trouble. In order for drug prevention efforts to effectively reduce harm, they must be reality-based. The most popular drug and the one most closely associated with violent behavior is often overlooked by parents. That drug is alcohol, and it takes far more lives each year than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol may be legal, but it's still the No. 1 drug problem. For decades, school-based drug prevention efforts have been dominated by sensationalist programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Good intentions are no substitute for effective drug education. Independent evaluations of DARE have found the program to be either ineffective or counterproductive. The scare tactics used do more harm than good. Students who realize they've been lied to about marijuana often make the mistake of assuming that harder drugs like meth-amphetamines are relatively harmless as well. This is a recipe for disaster. Drug education programs must be reality-based or they may backfire when kids are inevitably exposed to drug use amongst their peers. Robert Sharpe Washington, DC - --- MAP posted-by: Beth