PARENTS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE USE OF LEGAL, ILLEGAL DRUGS

The DARE anti-drug program may be a good idea gone bad (Letters, May
18). Many studies have concluded that the program is not working and,
in fact, may actually be hurting drug-abuse prevention efforts in
some communities! See www.fcda.org/dare.html.

Although the research is far from conclusive, there is evidence that
some strategies are ineffective. Scare tactics, providing only
information on drugs and their effects, self-esteem building, values
clarification, large assemblies and didactic presentation of material
characteristic of the DARE program have not been shown to be
particularly effective in the preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco
and other drugs.

Other approaches have been shown to have positive results. See
www.safety1st.org .

No one intervention works for everyone, but studies indicate
characteristics of curricula and programs necessary for success.
Because the majority of youths experiment with substances,
particularly alcohol and tobacco, prevention needs to target all
students. Since risk factors are present years before initiation,
prevention activities must start at home and continue in elementary
school and be periodically reinforced. Programs designed to meet
developmental needs of the students should be offered at each grade
level without saturating students to the point they discount the information.

Content areas that are necessary for an effective curriculum include:

* Normative education. Students generally overestimate how many peers
are actively involved in alcohol, tobacco and other drugs so it is
easier to be pressured by the myth that "everybody is doing it."
Student surveys and opinion polls are used to help students
understand actual use rates.

* Social skills. Decision-making, communication skills and
assertiveness skills are particularly important during the late
elementary and middle school years when puberty changes social dynamics.

* Social influences. Help students recognize external pressure -
advertising, role models and peer attitudes - and to develop the
cognitive skills to resist such pressures.

* Perceived harm. Helps students understand the risks and short- and
long-term consequences of drug use. The message must come from a
credible source and be reinforced in multiple settings.

* Protective factors. Support and encourage the development of
positive aspects of life such as helping, caring, goal-setting and
challenging students to live up to their potential and facilitating
affiliations with positive peers.

* Refusal skills. Learning ways to refuse alcohol, tobacco and other
drugs effectively and still maintain friendships. Recent research
indicates this is most relevant for teens who do not want to use drugs.

Curriculum delivery also is critical. Success comes from interactive
techniques rather than lectures or other forms of one-way communication.

Because of the complexity of the problem, coordination of prevention
messages and activities with other institutions in a youth's life is
essential. In the community - not school - is where most teen
alcohol, tobacco and drugs use occurs. Schools must be actively
involved in planning and coordinating anti-drug-use norms, including
public policy, media-created awareness, advocacy and enforcement.

I conclude that nationwide, DARE wasted more than $320 million in tax
money and donations last year alone with no beneficial effect on drug use.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the average
wages and benefits of full-time patrol officers nationwide is about
$57,000. General and administrative expenses are likely to add at
least 20 percent to total compensation. Thus, the full cost of a DARE
officer is $68,572 per year. There are seven full-time officers and
two supervisors conducting the DARE program on Maui. See
www.darehawaii.org/maui.html . Let's take that $500,000 and create
funding for programs that work: youth centers, canoe clubs, surfing
clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts, Fishing clubs, hunting
clubs and after-school programs.

The most effective anti-drug program is parents being involved with
their children and supporting their children in positive community
activity! A good start for parents is getting family members to sit
down for dinner every night and talk! Find out what interests your
children. Set aside a family and children day. Get involved!

Police should police and parents should parent. Parents need to work
with the school system, research and implement programs that have
been proven to work. The children should come first, not the police budget!