DEFENDING D A R E

Area police chiefs and DARE officers are disputing critics of the
nationwide drug-and-alcohol-education program, saying DARE has
succeeded in local schools.

`` If somebody comes up with a better program I'll be one of the first
ones to say `OK, go for it','' said Attleboro DARE officer Stephen
Shepard.

Shepard's comment was typical of many of the supporters of the DARE --
or Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- program.

Better DARE than nothing at all, supporters say, especially in a
society where children are bombarded by popular movies and music that
too often seem to glorify drug and alcohol use.

However, funding was cut in 2002 by acting Gov. Jane Swift, to
$200,000 from $4.3 million, forcing many towns in the state to trim or
drop the program.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey was one of the critics who earlier this week
angered DARE officials across the state when she criticized the
program, citing a new state criminal justice system report which gave
DARE a failing grade.

The lieutenant governor then met with DARE officials on Tuesday and
told them she would not recommend restoring state funding for DARE
until a nationwide study is completed several years from now.