DARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, NOT PREVENT

Recently your paper had an editorial trashing the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program. I used the word "trash" because that is exactly what you
did. Every year DARE comes under attack. The reason it comes under attack
is because individuals who launch the attack against the program don't
understand what the program is about. Unfortunately the media takes the
lead, yet they fail to explore what exactly DARE was created to do.

Anybody who believes that the DARE program is designed to stop kids from
using alcohol or drugs has their head buried in the sand. There is no
program known to man or woman that can do that. The DARE program is
designed to educate our youth regarding alcohol and controlled substances.
It is designed to give them a better understanding of the dangers these
substances pose. The definition of success that the media seems to use is
that kids should stop using alcohol or abusing drugs. If that is your
definition of success, then I can list a litany of programs that should be
discontinued.

I have been at literally hundreds of DARE graduations. I have seen
thousands of DARE students. I have never seen a reporter from your paper at
any DARE graduation. I see reporters daily reporting on alcohol-related
crashes. I see reporters daily covering crime scenes where drugs and
alcohol are involved. I see reporters at shootings where bodies are
scattered and bullet casings are present. Perhaps next time you may want to
take some time to learn about the DARE program and actually go to a DARE
graduation.

DARE does what it is designed to do. It needs improvement and it needs to
work in conjunction with other programs in the community, but it educates
our kids regarding alcohol and drugs. I am not going to sit back and cross
my fingers and hope these kids get this information from some other source.
I have seen what can happen when we let that occur. My children have gone
through DARE. I will support any program that educates kids regarding the
dangers of alcohol abuse and drug abuse, particularly some of the new drugs
that are making their presence known. It seems to me you spend more time
complaining about a program than finding out what it does.

Spend a few minutes to see what DARE does. It is more than simply "handing
out certificates and diplomas." DARE is popular for many reasons. Just
speak to a parent whose son or daughter has gone through the program. Of
course, that may require you to actually get out in the community and find
out what DARE is doing.

Paul E. Bucher, district attorney Waukesha County