ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM IS WORTH SUPPORTING

Several weeks ago, I attended a special graduation ceremony for my
fifth-grade daughter. The ceremony marked her graduation from the D.A.R.E.
program.

This program is for fifth-grade students. The city of Salisbury Police
Department is responsible for the program. The mnemonic, D.A.R.E., stands
for Drug Awareness Resistance Education. The kids learn about the negative
effects of illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol. The D.A.R.E. program may be
the only tool of education against these substances for many of our children.

At the graduation ceremony, I was told that funding for this program has
been drastically reduced over the last several years. The continued
operation of this program may be jeopardized by further cuts in funding. I
consider this program to be like an "immunization" against a potentially
deadly illness.

Preventive medicine is the norm with regard to contagious diseases. Abuse
of illegal drugs, tobacco and/or alcohol is a potentially lethal condition
that affects many of our children. Media exposure and peer pressure often
encourage them to abuse these substances. The D.A.R.E program seeks to
intervene on their behalf. The D.A.R.E. officers educate fifth graders
about media and peer influences. The officers educate them about the
horrible effects of illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

The "preventive medicine" in this case is education. Budget cuts mean that
your child might not be "immunized" against illegal drugs, tobacco or
alcohol. Shouldn't we parents demand that the D.A.R.E. program receive
appropriate funding?

- -- Eva Nelson

Salisbury