cannabisnews.com: No Tears at End of D.A.R.E. 





No Tears at End of D.A.R.E. 
Posted by FoM on June 09, 2000 at 08:55:44 PT
The program doesn't work well enough
Source: Lincoln Journal Star
Please -- no wailing and gnashing of teeth at news that the D.A.R.E. program is being phased out. The program doesn't work well enough to keep pouring money and manpower into it.Despite the program's popularity, there has been persuasive evidence since the early 1990s that the program fails to stop youths from smoking marijuana, drinking booze, popping pills and doing any other drugs.
A 1990 study funded by the Canadian government reported that "D.A.R.E. had no significant effect on the students' use of any of the substances measured. ... They included: tobacco, beer, pop, marijuana, acid, Valium, wine, aspirin, uppers, downers, heroin, crack (cocaine) liquor, candy, glue and PCP."More recently a 10-year, follow-up study by researchers at the University of Kentucky found the D.A.R.E. program failed to produce any effect on drug use.The Kentucky study followed students who were sixth-graders when the study began. Participants were assessed yearly, and recontacted when they were 20 years old. "At age 20 there were no differences between those who received D.A.R.E. and those who did not in their use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana or other drugs; expectancies about these drugs; or levels of peer pressure resistance," Professor Donald R. Lyman wrote in the October 1999 issue of American Teacher.Although the program's supporters contend that the study measured on old version of the curriculum, Lyman dismissed those objections. "Any changes to the curriculum have been more cosmetic than real," he wrote. "The basic elements remain the same."In announcing his decision to drop the program, Police Chief Tom Casady noted that police officer interest in the program has waned for several reasons, including the officers' knowledge of the research.Casady wants to continue putting police officers into schools, however, because the relationships that police officers form with youths has proved beneficial. Students have a chance to get to know officers as people, and vice versa. During the summer Lincoln Public School officials will study how the officers can be used as part of the school curriculum.Some of their time might be spent delivering messages about personal safety. For example, an officer might talk to elementary students about stranger danger. Some of the officers' time might be spent delivering anti-drug messages, perhaps as part of the health curriculum. Casady said that efforts will be made to find the approaches and anti-drug curricula that have the best chance of success.The replacement program has the potential, at least, to be more effective than the D.A.R.E. program ever was and to provide more overall community benefit. Published: June 9, 2000Copyright © 2000, Lincoln Journal Star. CannabisNews DARE Related News Items:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/DARE.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on June 09, 2000 at 09:48:32 PT:
Sharpening the blades
At first, reformers might be tempted to cheer the latest news; judging from the headline, it looks like it was another win for our side. Until you read further:'Casady wants to continue putting police officers into schools, however, because the relationships that police officers form with youths has proved beneficial. Studentshave a chance to get to know officers as people, and vice versa. During the summer Lincoln Public School officials will study how the officers can be used as part ofthe school curriculum.'Some of you may be familiar with the old Arab proverb of "never allow the camel to put it's nose inside the tent". The reason being is that if you do so, the camel will then try to put its' head in, then the shoulders, etc., etc. until you have the whole smelly, ill-tempered beast in your living area, and then you have a devil of a time in getting it out.DARE has succeeded where most camels fail. It has worked very hard to insinuate itself into the schools for one reason, and one reason only: surveillance. Intelligence gathering. The creation of little snitches who will, in their innocent desire (or not so innocent; recall the case of the 16 year old in Takoma Park, Maryland who *deliberately* ratted on her parents out of spite, thus ruining all their lives) to please the cop, inform on their own parents. It makes things so much easier for the cops; they don't have to chase down leads, because little Johnnie or Suzy will be happy to 'help' the Nice Policeman in his quixotic quest for a Drug-Free America... and advance his career in the process.DARE has served its' ostensble purpose: it got people used to the typically totalitarian practice of having a police presence in the classroom and it's intell gathering mission. Now the sugar coated veneer comes off. Now the knives come out of the scabbards, and they are being sharpened, right in front of you, prior to your being served up .
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