ANDERSON'S RIGHT ABOUT DARE

I am pleased that Mayor Rocky Anderson decided to discontinue funding the
DARE program. His data confirm suspicions I have held since my daughters
went through the program. I was dismayed at the information, or rather lack
of information, that they received as I reviewed their work.

Discussions with my daughters revealed that no distinctions were made among
various substances of abuse: beer was the same as cocaine, marijuana on the
same level with heroin. I set up a little scenario for each of my daughters
and they both responded the same way. I noted that soon they would be
attending a party and it would come to their attention that a group of
young people in the corner were drinking and perhaps smoking a few joints.
I asked my children to describe these people to me, what these imbibers
looked like? How were they acting?

The replies were that these misguided youths must be moaning, groaning,
vomiting, and wallowing on the floor in pain. When I suggested that on the
contrary, they would probably be laughing and having a better time than
anyone else at the venue my daughters became confused. How is it possible?

If drinking, smoking and taking drugs is "evil, wicked, mean, and nasty,"
then how can it be fun? I asked each of my daughters why people would ever
participate with these recreational substances. Neither had an answer. When
I suggested that perhaps it might be fun they became very perplexed.

At this point I slammed on the brakes and did a sharp U-turn. I made it
very clear that I do not want them taking recreational drugs,
over-indulging in alcohol and that I fully support the stated goals of DARE.

DARE is a failure because it distorts and/or ignores the truth. Elementary
schoolchildren move on to middle and high school, and they eventually
encounter drugs and alcohol. They must make their own decisions based on
the information they have received from their families, churches and
schools. What do they do when that information is strikingly at odds with
what they experience with their own senses? They naively believe that
substances as harmful as recreational drugs cannot be pleasant at first.
When their eyes and ears tell them differently, it is a short step to
actual experimentation. The initial euphoria of the first high is further
evidence that they have been misled by their parents and teachers. I hope
Mayor Anderson can find an effective anti-drug program for our youth that
will DARE to tell the truth.