DON'T SEND THE COPS

I am not sorry to see the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
program go (``DARE scrapped'' - Jan. 29). At least one national study
has shown it doesn't work. Why? The answer is open to conjecture. Here
are some possible reasons:

* Because a lot of the information put out by the program is hyped-up,
scare propaganda.

* Equating marijuana with harder drugs just doesn't wash anymore, and
kids know it.

* Because insisting drugs will automatically ruin your life simply
isn't true. The vast majority of people who use drugs do not become
addicted or ruin their lives, and kids know it.

* Because the average, hormone-impaired young person who thinks he or
she has the savvy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the physical skills
of Jackie Chan is inclined to greet inflated threats and intimidation
from police officers with suspicion, if not outright rebellion. It is,
after all, cool to stand up to authority.

* Because in some neighborhoods, where kids have watched cops blow
away a few of their friends (whether justified or not), the
credibility of police officers, regardless of their sincerity,
truthfulness or respectful demeanor, is automatically questioned.

The problem is, drugs are dangerous and kids do need straight
information from credible sources if they're to make the right
choices. Give it to them through their peers, health professionals and
parents, but don't try to make the choice for them by sending in the
cops. It won't work.

Randy Serraglio