Bellevue Loves Officer Bob, but Some Say the Anti-Drug Program Doesn't Work BELLEVUE -- At the end of this school year, the Bellevue Police Department will end its involvement in D.A.R.E., becoming the latest law enforcement agency in King County to drop the well-known drug and prevention program in public schools. In calling for an end to his department's 17-year involvement with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, Bellevue police Chief Jim Montgomery cited several studies stretching back more than 15 years. [continues 1318 words]
When I was growing up, I never expected to become addicted to drugs and enter into a world of crime, violence and despair. But that is exactly what happened, despite outwardly having all the advantages of a middle-class home and lifestyle. My parents -- mother, father and stepfather -- were all psychologists, but they had no idea about the road I headed down at a very early age. My family was like many modern families, and we went through common struggles -- divorce, blended family, tight financial times and teenage conflict. Early on, I found that if I got high, I felt better. I also felt a sense of belonging, because I used drugs with my friends. Over time, the drugs became my way of dealing with the chaos at home, rejection by my father, my own feelings of inadequacy, and with any uncomfortable, boring or stressful situation. [continues 778 words]
