NO TEARS AT END OF D.A.R.E.

Please -- no wailing and gnashing of teeth at news that the D.A.R.E. program
is being phased out.

The program doesn't work well enough to keep pouring money and manpower into
it.

Despite the program's popularity, there has been persuasive evidence since
the early 1990s that the program fails to stop youths from smoking
marijuana, drinking booze, popping pills and doing any other drugs.

A 1990 study funded by the Canadian government reported that "D.A.R.E. had
no significant effect on the students' use of any of the substances
measured. ... They included: tobacco, beer, pop, marijuana, acid, Valium,
wine, aspirin, uppers, downers, heroin, crack (cocaine) liquor, candy, glue
and PCP."

More recently a 10-year, follow-up study by researchers at the University of
Kentucky found the D.A.R.E. program failed to produce any effect on drug
use.

The Kentucky study followed students who were sixth-graders when the study
began. Participants were assessed yearly, and recontacted when they were 20
years old. "At age 20 there were no differences between those who received
D.A.R.E. and those who did not in their use of cigarettes, alcohol,
marijuana or other drugs; expectancies about these drugs; or levels of peer
pressure resistance," Professor Donald R. Lyman wrote in the October 1999
issue of American Teacher.

Although the program's supporters contend that the study measured on old
version of the curriculum, Lyman dismissed those objections. "Any changes to
the curriculum have been more cosmetic than real," he wrote. "The basic
elements remain the same."

In announcing his decision to drop the program, Police Chief Tom Casady
noted that police officer interest in the program has waned for several
reasons, including the officers' knowledge of the research.

Casady wants to continue putting police officers into schools, however,
because the relationships that police officers form with youths has proved
beneficial. Students have a chance to get to know officers as people, and
vice versa. During the summer Lincoln Public School officials will study how
the officers can be used as part of the school curriculum.

Some of their time might be spent delivering messages about personal safety.
For example, an officer might talk to elementary students about stranger
danger. Some of the officers' time might be spent delivering anti-drug
messages, perhaps as part of the health curriculum. Casady said that efforts
will be made to find the approaches and anti-drug curricula that have the
best chance of success.

The replacement program has the potential, at least, to be more effective
than the D.A.R.E. program ever was and to provide more overall community
benefit.