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.