SUFFOLK POLICE TO END DARE PROGRAM IN JANUARY

The popular but controversial school-based drug prevention program,
commonly known as DARE, will cease to exist in Suffolk come January,
Police Commissioner Richard Dormer told a legislative panel Thursday.

The approach -- advocated by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program -- of saying no to drugs has not worked in Suffolk since its
introduction to the county in 1988, Dormer said.

"They [students] are tuning us out and that's why we haven't reduced
drug use in our society," Dormer told members of the Public Safety Committee.

The elimination of the DARE program will save the police department
hundreds of thousands dollars in police salaries but Dormer said
that's not his motivation. He's trying to find a better way to
deliver drug education to students.

Dormer is advocating a new program, called Enhanced HEALTHSmart, in
place of DARE.

The changes, which Dormer laid out to the committee for the first
time Thursday, were opposed by three Republican legislators who said
they want DARE remain intact, and welcome additional drug-prevention programs.

"Why not both?" said Legis. Joseph Caracappa (R-Selden). "Is this all
about dollars and cents?"