DOES D.A.R.E. WORK

Many Say Yes, Some Question Effectiveness Of Program

Eden Morris shyly raised her hand as Alexandria police Cpl. Brian
Boney pleaded with the class for responses.

Soon, the 10-year-old Peabody Montessori School student's hand shot up
when the DARE officers asked a question. She even took part in a
role-playing activity.

"They look really nice, and they are not shy," she said. "They are
confident and believe in themselves. It makes me confident."

Last week, 33 Drug Abuse Resistance Education officers walked into
five Rapides Parish schools. It was their first time to teach a lesson
in front of elementary kids.

Such a meeting of DARE officers often causes the debate to again begin
about whether the drug prevention program actually helps young people
to avoid the pitfalls of illegal drugs.

In Rapides schools, it appears that both teachers and students like
the interaction with officers and welcome the efforts by law
enforcement personnel.

"I was nervous. I am not going to lie," said LaSalle Parish sheriff's
Deputy Denny Pittman about his appearance in the classroom.

Once in front of Lynn Lemott's fifth-grade class, Pittman settled in.
He walked around the class and told jokes as he taught the class how
to handle peer pressure. His jokes got a few chuckles, but the lesson
seemed to sink in.

Tiara Johnson, 10, said the officers taught her things she can use in
life.

"I know how to stand up to peer pressure," she said. "It is fun to
have the officers teach."

Morris, who is in Gloria Williams' fifth-grade class, agreed. She said
the officers have given her even more confidence to say "no" to bad
peer pressure.

However, the DARE program has not always gotten such rave reviews for
its effectiveness. And it does cost money, as in 2000 then-Gov. Mike
Foster's administration recommended chopping $3.8 million in funding
for DARE's budget to help the state cope with a budget deficit.

Studies by the U.S. surgeon general and the U.S. General Accounting
Office have questioned DARE's results. In a 1998 Illinois study, "no
statistically significant difference" was found between a group of
students exposed to DARE and a group who were not in recent or any use
of drugs.

It did show that DARE students had stronger negative attitudes toward
drug use and "improved social resistance skills immediately after the
intervention," according to the study.

However, the report showed that the effects waned over time.

More anecdotal evidence exists than hard numbers, said Beth Lord
Whittington, assistant professor in criminal justice at Louisiana
State University at Alexandria.

"They cannot positively prove that DARE has made a significance
difference in the reduction of crime, particularly kids using drugs.
But, all success is not measured by reduction numbers," Whittington
said.

For example, many kids have come through DARE and learned ways to
avoid drugs, she said.

"We've had kids who have actually turned in their parents. So to say
'yes it does' or 'no it doesn't work,' I don't think we can say that,"
Whittington said.

"You can't measure everything in terms of numbers," she added. "There
are a lot of DARE officers who have made significant impact in these
kids lives. Story after story after story."

Whittington said there may be new ways of looking at making a
difference in kids' lives, such as with SRO officers in schools and
community policing, "which goes a long way toward accomplishing the
same purposes as DARE."

"The bottom line is, if you ask if it works, I would have to say what
are you measuring? It has made a significant impact in the lives of a
number of kids."

Proponents of DARE have argued that the studies were limited and in
some ways bias against the program.

"If the lessons learned from DARE stays with one kid, then it is worth
it," said Peabody Montessori Principal Rena Linzay.

She admits it is hard to tell whether family upbringing, life
situations or DARE causes a child to say "no" to drugs.

"But I think it (DARE) is important to have in our schools," she said.
"I love DARE."

Tioga High School Principal Kim Hutchinson said she thinks the lessons
learned in lower grades do stay with students. Also, a number of her
students speak to younger kids about the dangers of drugs, and they
come back to school rejuvenated, she said.

Boney said he is glad to see that the officers make a difference in
children's lives and give them a positive look at law enforcement officers.

"We are teaching them life skills and how to make decisions," he
said.

Sitting at her desk in the corner, Williams smiled as she listened to
her class' answers and their reaction with the officers.

She said the issues the officers are addressing with the kids are some
they are already facing.

"This is very important," she said. "The officers are offering them
solutions and resolutions to situations."

Lemott said students in the fifth grade are going through so many
changes.

"The DARE program gives them confidence to say 'no,'" she said.

Both Boney and Pittman became full-time DARE officers upon a
graduation ceremony last Friday. Police officers from across the state
were in Alexandria last week to attend DARE training.

Students answer: How effective was DARE in your life decisions?

"I don't do drugs, but (DARE) is not effective at all. I remember
learning pot is bad, smoking causes lung cancer. Everything DARE
taught me my dad had already pounded into my head." -- Morgan Vidrine,
17

"As a police officer, I'd like to think for me, (DARE) was effective.
I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. In DARE, you learn different
ways to say no, and that you don't have to listen to your friends to
be cool." -- Matthew Gaines, 23