News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Editorial: Thanks, T.O., for Preserving DARE for As |
| Title: | US CA: Editorial: Thanks, T.O., for Preserving DARE for As |
| Published On: | 2007-06-07 |
| Source: | Thousand Oaks Acorn (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 04:31:00 |
THANKS, T.O., FOR PRESERVING DARE FOR AS LONG AS YOU DID
To its credit, the city of Thousand Oaks underwrote the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) program after Ventura County scrapped
DARE in a cost-cutting spree several years ago. While not perfect,
DARE at least tried to persuade young people that using drugs is
dangerous. Now it's being canceled altogether.
Although its intentions were noble, there were horror stories about
DARE. Some graduates of the program not only used drugs later on,
they became drug dealers.
But no program in history was 100 percent effective in preventing
drug and alcohol use, not even Prohibition. Even strong families that
routinely attend church--another deterrent to drug and alcohol
abuse--are not immune.
Let's face it: Some people are going to use drugs or alcohol, and it
doesn't matter what they learn in school. Even in homes where drugs
and alcohol are forbidden, a person filled with rebellion will
sometimes ignore the beliefs and values that were drilled into him.
Another downside to prevention programs is that they deny the often
pleasurable effects of drugs and alcohol. It's not realistic to
ignore, for example, alcohol's role as a social lubricant that, in
moderation, can help reduce stress. Trying to paint ugly pictures of
"demon rum" and "reefer madness" are ineffective and
counterproductive.
Instead of DARE, the city will pay for a police officer to visit
schools and presumably emphasize the not so favorable consequences of
drug and alcohol use. Some people who are prone to addiction simply
cannot safely consume any substance that intoxicates them or makes
them high. Kids should also be reminded that drugs are illegal and
that drinking is only for adults.
While DARE wasn't a panacea, the city deserves credit for keeping it
alive when no other program was available.
In conclusion, drugs and alcohol are and will remain a problem for
the foreseeable future. They're not going to go away, and our schools
and city must do whatever they can to inform young people about the
risks.
To its credit, the city of Thousand Oaks underwrote the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) program after Ventura County scrapped
DARE in a cost-cutting spree several years ago. While not perfect,
DARE at least tried to persuade young people that using drugs is
dangerous. Now it's being canceled altogether.
Although its intentions were noble, there were horror stories about
DARE. Some graduates of the program not only used drugs later on,
they became drug dealers.
But no program in history was 100 percent effective in preventing
drug and alcohol use, not even Prohibition. Even strong families that
routinely attend church--another deterrent to drug and alcohol
abuse--are not immune.
Let's face it: Some people are going to use drugs or alcohol, and it
doesn't matter what they learn in school. Even in homes where drugs
and alcohol are forbidden, a person filled with rebellion will
sometimes ignore the beliefs and values that were drilled into him.
Another downside to prevention programs is that they deny the often
pleasurable effects of drugs and alcohol. It's not realistic to
ignore, for example, alcohol's role as a social lubricant that, in
moderation, can help reduce stress. Trying to paint ugly pictures of
"demon rum" and "reefer madness" are ineffective and
counterproductive.
Instead of DARE, the city will pay for a police officer to visit
schools and presumably emphasize the not so favorable consequences of
drug and alcohol use. Some people who are prone to addiction simply
cannot safely consume any substance that intoxicates them or makes
them high. Kids should also be reminded that drugs are illegal and
that drinking is only for adults.
While DARE wasn't a panacea, the city deserves credit for keeping it
alive when no other program was available.
In conclusion, drugs and alcohol are and will remain a problem for
the foreseeable future. They're not going to go away, and our schools
and city must do whatever they can to inform young people about the
risks.
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