DARE GRADUATES ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE ILLEGAL DRUGS

To the Editor:

I'm writing in response to Jesse Adams' outstanding opinions column "Against
the tide of DARE's misinformation" (Oct. 11).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth from
using illegal drugs. But it doesn't. DARE graduates are more likely to use
illegal drugs - not less.

Common sense tells us that the Earth is the center of the universe and our
solar system. But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially reduce
the use of the product that's prohibited.

Actually, prohibition tends to substantially increase the desire for the
product that's prohibited.

Before marijuana was criminalized in the United States via the Marijuana Tax
Act of 1937, the vast majority of U.S. citizens had never heard of it. Now
everybody in the United States knows what marijuana is and the U. S.
government estimates that at least 90 million U.S. citizens have used it.
About half of all high school students will use marijuana before they
graduate.

People want what they are told they cannot have - especially children. The
lure of the "forbidden fruit" is very powerful.

Kirk Muse
Mesa, Ariz.
Oct. 13