MASSACHUSETTS' D.A.R.E. PROGRAM IS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL

The Romney administration has eliminated funding for many prevention
programs, including all of the funding for D.A.R.E. programs
throughout Massachusetts.

Based on information and surveys from 1998, administration leaders
claim that there is not enough data to show that spending tax payer's
money on prevention education programs, D.A.R.E. specifically, works
in Massachusetts.

Since the elimination of the $4.3-million state appropriated funding
last year, more than 125 towns have been forced to reassign their
D.A.R.E. officers and remove them from schools. Thankfully, many towns
had the ability to tighten belts in other areas to keep the program in
their schools.

While it is difficult to measure results of prevention programs,
including D.A.R.E., and the Romney administration clearly doesn't
believe in providing funds for these kinds of programs, in spite of
the cries of thousands of parents, the fact is, D.A.R.E. does work,
and there is current scientific, research and data to support these
claims.

More money for lock-up and treatment is how they spend your money.

Faithful critics seem to suggest that D.A.R.E., the largest
not-for-profit, prevention, education program in the world should
solve the country's drug and alcohol abuse problem, which is an
impossible expectation.

D.A.R.E. Massachusetts Executive Director Domenic DiNatale says,
"D.A.R.E. is not a magic wand that will make the substance abuse
problem disappear. Rather, it is a beginning for parents and community
to build upon, and perhaps criticism of the program comes from a sense
of frustration from those for-profit organizations trying to buy
their way into schools and know they will always be number two."

Certified D.A.R.E. police officers provide factual information about
drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence, and the consequences of becoming
involved in high-risk behavior. Their efforts foster personal and
positive relationships between youngsters and in their own
communities.

"What the numerous studies and critics conveniently forget to tell the
public is that our complete curricula is K-12, and the majority of
communities, due to budgets or man-power, have elected to only deliver
the pre-K or elementary or middle or high school programs," says DiNatale.

Even when focusing on partial D.A.R.E. programs, more than 50
published research studies since 1983 indicate that providing just one
of the various curricula, the D.A.R.E. program has been shown to
reduce drug use, increase peer resistance, encourage communication
with parents, as well as establishing a more positive relationship
with local police.

Students who were provided the entire curriculum showed the lowest
levels of drug involvement.

"No drug prevention program alone prevents drug use," says DiNatale.
"Our curriculum must be supplemented by continuous community-based
education, reinforcement by parents in the home, and consistent
messages from religious leaders, elected officials and the media."

D.A.R.E. is not simply a "Just Say No" program. We teach young people
not just to refuse substance abuse, but how to do that. Students are
taught to develop social competence, communication skills,
self-esteem, and empathy, as well as being encouraged to choose
activities that are positive alternatives to drug abuse.

The cost of D.A.R.E. material for one child, from kindergarten through
grade 12, is just $12.50. Compared to the $40,000 per year for
incarceration, and up to $800 per day for drug treatment programs that
the current administration wants to support, D.A.R.E. is a bargain.
Providing funding for D.A.R.E. is without a doubt prudent and fiscally
responsible. While we understand that treatment is part of the
process, thinking that arresting our way out of the drug problem is
absurd and should not be part of the process.

D.A.R.E. America has recently released its new D.A.R.E. curriculum
titled "Take Charge of Your Life," developed by educators at the
University of Akron and includes the latest research, proven teaching
methods, and the best prevention education practices. This is the
ninth time D.A.R.E. has updated the curriculum, as we continually
strive to provide the most current and effective means to reach children.

The prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest
philanthropic prevention education institution in the world, has
commissioned a five-year study of the new curriculum in six major
cities, and the initial results are most encouraging.

The study involves about 20,000 students from 83 high schools and 122
middle schools. When concluded, it will have been one of the largest,
most comprehensive science-based studies ever conducted for any drug
prevention program.

The study, (after two years) indicates that decision-making scores for
those schools receiving the new curriculum were 6 percent higher than
control groups, including those offered other forms of prevention education.

It also indicates as much as a 19 percent reduction in normal beliefs,
showing more students perceive substance abuse by their peers as not
as common and acceptable. Fewer students reported intent to use
inhalants, and students reported a greater ability to refuse drug use.

The Romney Administration, at a recent D.A.R.E. training conference,
made it clear that funding for D.A.R.E. will not even be considered
for at least two more years. That's how long they feel they should
wait for the results of new studies to be presented.

"D.A.R.E. Massachusetts cannot idly wait for this administration and
hope that the program gets funded two or three years from now,"
DiNatale says. "It's like the Romney administration hoping it will
still have hold of the corner office two years from now. We must act
now to save the lives of young people in Massachusetts. Prevention
education is the key to their future."

If you are interested in helping D.A.R.E Massachusetts, and the
programs, and services we provide to every community, please feel free
to call our main office at 1-877-DAREMA-1 or 617-471-DARE. or visit us
at www.darema.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: Author Michael Mather of Brocton is a former Brockton
D.A.R.E. Officer for eight years, and appointed as the Commonwealths
drug czar under the Cellucci administration. He is D.A.R.E.
Massachusetts' chief executive officer.