DIFFICULT TIMES FOR DARE IN LOCAL TOWNS

Several South Shore communities are struggling to rescue Drug Abuse
Resistance Education programs that lost state funding after the Romney
administration deemed DARE an ineffective use of taxpayer money.

Communities have been running the program without state help since last
year, when the administration cut $4.3 million for DARE.

Now the administration is saying it does not plan to restore that funding
even as the state's finances improve, prompting a heated response from DARE
supporters.

''We can't arrest our way out of this problem, and that's exactly what's
going to happen,'' said Michael Mather, chief executive of DARE
Massachusetts. ''We don't need to put children in jail. We need prevention
and education.''

Mather said Randolph and Avon are among the South Shore communities that
have eliminated DARE because of a lack of money. Several others have
scrambled to maintain their programs by raising money locally.

Hanover Police Chief Paul Hayes said the program has proven effective in
his community and will remain in place as long as he can find enough money
to keep it going.

''I firmly believe in having a police officer in the schools,'' Hayes said.
''That kind of mentoring needs to go on these days, and not only by
parents. A lot of kids need a little extra direction.''

In addition to Hanover, Hingham Marshfield, Scituate and Duxbury have kept
DARE programs operating. Other communities, including Braintree and
Weymouth, have opted out of the program, either because of budget problems
or because of concerns about its effectiveness.

A report released by the Romney administration last month said substance
abuse problems can be more effectively addressed in other ways. The report,
endorsed by Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, included DARE in a list of programs not
getting the most from taxpayer dollars.

But Mather said Healey's conclusions were based on outdated research and
misconceptions about the effects the program has on children.

''People still think it's just one grade,'' Mather said. ''It is a
kindergarten-through-12th grade program. We need to build better children,
and we need companies and parents to get involved.''