LET KIDS DECIDE ABOUT DRUGS

Re: Officer honoured for bringing DARE to Canada

Kevin Graham says critics are unaccepting of DARE either because they would
rather push their own drug prevention program or because people have
expected far too much of it.

"Everybody is wanting DARE to be the silver bullet, but it never will be"--
Graham.

At the very least, DARE has been great to increase the contact between
police and the community, he says.

I am one of the critics of DARE and I don't expect it to be a silver
bullet, but it should at least be able to show that it prevents some kids
from using dope later in life, it doesn't.

As a matter of fact some studies suggest that certain groups of kids who
have DARE training are actually more likely to use illicit drugs later in life.

If Mr. Graham thinks being able to show some measure of success is asking
to much of a program, I sure wish I could have his job. It really is funny
how the police get more money for themselves through the war on some drugs.

If the drug rate starts to climb the cops can get more money to try and
fight the drugs.

If the drug use rate goes down the cops need more money to keep doing the
good work that has driven the usage rates down. All the while they keep
getting more money and more peoples lives are ruined by prohibition.

How about this, we end prohibition of all drugs and leave the education of
the children to the people that know and care about the children the most
- -- their parents.

As for the grown adults who are free to make up their own mind as to what
they want to put into their bodies, well, they should be left the hell alone.

If I need contact between a cop and myself, I'll go to Tim Hortons.

Otherwise, they can just keep on keeping on.

Trevor Houlahan

Garson, Ontario