DRUG FIGHT USED IN COUNTY SCHOOLS UNDER FIRE

Faulted By State, Federal Education Offices, National DARE Program Seeks
Overhaul

PETALUMA -- Between drags on a cigarette, a Petaluma High sophomore fondly
recalled playing soccer with the police officer who taught his fifth-grade
class about drugs.

But the teen, who requested anonymity, said common sense and conversations
with his marijuana-growing dad kept him from trying anything harder than pot.

"I think it's better coming from parents," he said.

DARE -- Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- is the most widely used
anti-drug program in U.S. schools, its trademark red-and-black logo a
nearly universal symbol for "Just Say No."

The 18-year-old program is used in about 30 schools in Sonoma County.

Despite its popularity, DARE is coming under increasing fire. Recent
academic studies and government reports show it has marginal, if any,
long-term effects on drug use.

The federal Department of Education told school districts they can only use
federal money for anti-drug programs that have proven successful.

In California, the state Department of Education is telling school
districts not to spend state or federal substance abuse prevention dollars
on DARE because it is ineffective.

For many years, DARE organizers dismissed criticism of the program as
flawed or sponsored by groups in favor of decriminalizing drug use.

Now, however, it is trying a new approach.

DARE America Inc. is overhauling its program and planning to test a new
curriculum in six cities and their suburbs over the next five years.

"Just Say No hasn't worked," said Bill Alden, a retired Drug Enforcement
Administration agent who serves as deputy director of DARE America.

"It's not going to work," he said. "It's too simplistic for kids today."

In Petaluma, which has used DARE longer than any other Sonoma County school
district, other programs will be considered for drug education next year.

"I have informed the board we would like to continue to participate in the
program for one more academic year," Superintendent Carl Wong said.

The school district pays the Police Department to teach the classes. It was
billed $15,600 this year.

Petaluma has used the DARE program for 13 years. Rohnert Park and Windsor
police and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department also have taught DARE
classes for four to six years.

Thousands of children have graduated from the DARE elementary school
program in Sonoma County, but it's unclear what effect that has had on drug
use.

Mirroring national data, A Healthy Kids survey last year in Sonoma County
found 50 percent of seventh, ninth and 11th graders who voluntarily
responded to the questionnaire had smoked marijuana and 72 percent said
they had a full drink of alcohol.

A 1999 report by the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Sonoma County report said
27 percent of Sonoma County high school students smoke cigarettes -- up
from 11 percent in 1990.

DARE, founded by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1983, placed officers
in classrooms to warn students about drugs, help build their self-esteem
and provide them ways to say "No."

In revising its curriculum, DARE America is drawing on conclusions made by
researchers that less lecturing and more interactive, hands-on activities
may have better results.

"The officer, instead of acting as an instructor, they act as a guide,"
Alden explained.

San Francisco may be one of the cities where the new curriculum will be
tested but it's unknown when it will available in Sonoma County.

Officers teaching DARE classes staunchly support the program, but they are
eager to see the changes.

"I believe it's successful. But to be as successful as it can be, it needs
to be continued to high school and junior high school," said Terry
Campbell, a Petaluma officer who has taught DARE classes for more than a
decade.

Some experts say a 17-week program for fifth or sixth graders isn't enough
to keep youngsters from experimenting with drugs.

"To achieve effective prevention with young people, we need to do a
comprehensive effort," said Barbara Graves, director of prevention and
planning at Sonoma County Health Services. "It's not just teaching kids,
but working with parents in supporting kids in making healthy choices."

Lynn Garric, safe schools manager at the county Office of Education, added
that the message needs to be delivered in a variety of ways to make the
greatest impact on the most students.

"Some students will be motivated by the legal consequences. Other students
will be more motivated on short-term effects on health. Someone else may be
motivated by the cost of cigarettes," she said.

One of the alternate programs Petaluma City Schools is reviewing has
marijuana workshops for parents and the community in addition to students,
said Tammy Cotter, substance abuse prevention specialist for both Petaluma
and Sonoma State University.

Police cite individual examples of success as evidence of the program's
success. But they concede the curriculum can be improved.

"Without continued follow-up messages throughout junior high and high
school, we're kind of dooming this program to failure," Petaluma Police
Chief Pat Parks said.

DARE America offers 10-week programs for seventh and ninth graders but with
the exception of St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, none of Sonoma
County's schools use DARE in secondary school.

Police chiefs in cities that don't teach DARE classes said the program is
too expensive. Exact numbers were unavailable, but cities that use the
program spend tens of thousands of dollars in materials and officer time
annually.

Santa Rosa Police Chief Mike Dunbaugh said it would cost more than $1
million to take officers off the streets and put them in classrooms. But
even if the city provided the funds, he said he prefers using drug
education specialists to teach the lessons.

"I don't think it's necessarily the occupation of the person who gives the
message," Dunbaugh said. "It's the connection that person makes with the
listener."

News Researcher Michele Van Hoeck contributed to this report.