Pubdate: Tue, 18 Apr 2006
Source: Bossier Press-Tribune (LA)
Copyright: 2006 Bossier Press-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.bossierpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4132
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n453/a08.html
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARE DOESN'T WORK

I'm writing about Theresa Gardner's: "DARE TO SAY NO" (4-11-06).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth 
from using illegal drugs. But it doesn't. DARE graduates are more 
likely to use illegal drugs--not less. Common sense tells us that the 
Earth is the center of the universe and our solar system. But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially 
reduce the use of the product that's prohibited.

Actually, prohibition tends to substantially increase the desire for 
the product that's prohibited.

Before marijuana was criminalized in the U. S. via the Marijuana Tax 
Act of 1937, the vast majority of Americans had never heard of 
marijuana. Now everybody in the U. S. knows what marijuana is and the 
U. S. government estimates that at least 90 million Americans have 
used it. About half of all high school students will use it before 
they graduate.

People want what they are told they cannot have -- especially 
children. The lure of the "forbidden fruit" is very powerful.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, AZ
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman