LETTERS ON REASSESSING DRUG EDUCATION

I am gratified to see the Garden Grove Unified

School District is committed to the DARE program (Dec. 22). It is easy to
get caught up in the anti-drug-education zeitgeist that has become
prevalent. As a council member with the city of Garden Grove, I am a
proponent of DARE and see it as an asset to our community-oriented policing
program.

Too many people look for a single instant solution to the problem of drug
abuse. Changing and shaping attitudes is a long-term process. We need to
look at collective successes over time. Proper socialization of our youth
can guide them into becoming good citizens. Positive classroom exposure to
a police officer can help shape behavioral attitudes.

Reinforcement from teachers and, most important, parents lays the
foundation of responsible citizenship. DARE officers spend their days in
contact with our community's youth. They are often a valuable source of
information with regard to issues troubling our youth. They can also be a
valuable source of information for young people. They are available to
answer questions about the perils of drug abuse and the criminal
consequences associated with the drug lifestyle.

I view our law enforcement as part of the community. It is through positive
interaction that we are able to build bridges and contribute to making
Garden Grove a great place to live and work.

KEN MADDOX Garden Grove

An "A" to Orange County school districts that are reviewing DARE (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) programs' effectiveness.

Thumbs up to Phyllis Reed and Buena Park School District's leadership for
looking for new approaches to designing drug use curriculum. The bottom
line is that kids come out of DARE with knowledge about drugs, improved
social skills and a more positive attitude about police.

DARE affects youth on a short-term basis and by itself has little impact on
youth risk factors on a long-term basis. Studies show youth going through
DARE programs are just as likely to get involved with alcohol and drugs as
those who don't go through the program. When it comes to making the grade,
DARE has received an "F" in the scientific literature over the last 15
years. Even William Hanson, the designer of DARE, says the program should
be "scrapped and redeveloped."

Although the DARE program is popular among school personnel, parents,
police and kids, the billions of dollars spent on school-based anti-drug
programs has failed to have a major effect on drug use patterns among young
people. Prevention programs such as DARE ultimately should be tested on the
new Department of Education standards based on reducing drug use and
availability. Several promising "social influence" programs and
peer-to-peer approaches such as Friday Night Live exist to work with youth
in schools to reduce the likelihood they will engage in alcohol, tobacco,
and other drug use by looking at social influences and the environment kids
live in.

Because 60% of youth have access to legal drugs such as alcohol, the
advertising, social and economic environment kids live in also should be
addressed.

ANNETTE PADILLA Brea

* Re "Taking a fresh look at DARE," Jan. 4 editorial:

DARE is a monumental mistake. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
does not conform to the new principles of effectiveness for the state of
California. This new position by the California Department of Education is
an admission that DARE is not a correct anti-drug strategy and may in fact
be psychologically deleterious to a child's proper socialization.

RUDI KRAUSE
Anaheim

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