I CRITICIZE MY CITY'S ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM?

Alan Bock's article,"Do we DARE say it?"[Commentary,June 13],hopefully will
stimulate some much-needed public debate concerning the effectiveness of the
DARE program.

As a full-time father of two recent DARE graduates, I feel that I have
firsthand knowledge of this well-intentioned but flawed program to keep
children from using drugs.

In my area, the program is conducted by the Huntington Beach Police
Department; therefore, I must be careful not to knock the police off their
DARE rocking horse for fear of suffering the wrath of City Hall, which does
not permit criticism of city employees.

May I be so bold as to suggest that I, as a parent and the person most
responsible, be allowed to teach my children about drugs at the appropriate
time and place best suited for their particular situation and ask the state
nannies to butt out?

John Boag, Huntington Beach