SCHOOLS REVIEW DARE

The Quesnel School District is "monitoring the impact" of controversial
drug intervention programs like DARE, drug free zones, EBS and 2nd Step.
The evaluation is listed as one of several actions that the school
district's plans to carry out this year to meet its goal of creating "a
safe, positive, learning environment."

Programs like DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) have been widely
criticized in the U.S. for doing little to prevent drug use among children.
Superintendent of schools Ed Napier said he is aware of the controversy
surrounding these programs, but notes that parents and students in Quesnel
have found them helpful.

Teachers, principals, support staff and parents will be consulted, and a
report will be prepared for the school board by next August. DARE is a drug
education program in which police talk to students in schools.

Critics say police harm children with their "Just say no" message by
failing to distinguish between soft drugs like marijuana and dangerous,
addictive narcotics like heroin and cocaine.