SHERIFF'S OFFICE MADE WISE CALL TO CHANGE YOUTH DRUG PROGRAM

Changing times often call for a change in direction. Such was the case
facing the Hall County Sheriff's Office last year when it learned the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program was revising its curriculum.

The sheriff's office started to look at other preventative programs and
chose the Avoiding Drugs Violence and Negative Choices Early, or ADVANCE.
Sheriff's deputies have been teaching the program to fifth-graders in the
Hall County School System since January.

That's not to say that DARE wasn't effective. Quite the contrary. In it's
12 years in Hall, the program touched the lives of countless youth,
educating them on the pitfalls of drugs and gangs and how best to avoid both.

But it was the latter area that prompted the change locally, as DARE no
longer covers gangs. The Los Angeles-based DARE America Worldwide decided
to rewrite its curriculum to focus more on drug resistance, the area on
which its effectiveness ultimately was judged

"With our influx of gang activity, we decided we needed a better fit for
our community," said Lt. Gene Joy, a unit commander with the Hall sheriff's
office.

We agree and congratulate the sheriff's office for its proactive decision.
In this day and age, the status quo can be a tempting comfort zone. By
adapting, however, the office is ensuring that students receive detailed
information that is best tailored to their area and lives.

Joy said that the sheriff's office has been pleased with the curriculum of
the new program, which the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office created in 1997
after making the decision to end the DARE program there.

"It promotes self-esteem and working together cooperatively in teams to
combat the influences negative groups will put on you to get involved with
drugs and gangs," Joy said.

Hall deputies teach the course for one hour a week for eight weeks. Topics
also include peer pressure and understanding violence. The old DARE
curriculum lasted 17 weeks.

Unchanged are the graduations that mark the program's completion, as well
as its essay and poster contests. The ceremonies are set to begin March 23
and run through April 13. Contest winners will be chosen from each class.

Early returns appear promising. Mary Elder, the principal at Sardis
Elementary in northwestern Hall, said she believes ADVANCE "prepares the
students for the middle and high school years in terms of making smart
choices."

And those types of decisions won't end in their school years. The more
information students can receive on avoiding negative habits and
influences, the better. We all can benefit from such smart choices.