DARE IS ONE GOOD WEAPON IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

A Jan. 5 letter to the editor attacked the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) program, sponsored by the Memphis Police Department. It
mentioned several notable individuals and entities that were critical
of DARE. It concluded by saying my motivation for supporting DARE is
my pursuit of taxpayer grant money.

Without arguing the writer's point, I think it is important to
identify current DARE successes, and to present current findings, not
those that are dated. DARE aims at informing students of the harmful
physical and emotional effects of drug use and abuse. The program
seeks to build solid decision-making skills and problem-solving
tactics, so students might better resist drug use and violence.
Finally, DARE offers alternatives to drug use.

Several positive effects of DARE are notable. The University of Akron
released results recently of its evaluation of the new DARE
curriculum. These findings show improvement in student decision-making
skills drug refusal skills, and beliefs that drug use is socially
inappropriate.

The Memphis Police Department receives an annual $10,000 grant from
the Center For Drug Free Schools to support this program. We fund the
rest of the program with confiscated and seized drug money.

DARE never has been, nor will ever be, a "godsend" to the police, as
the writer said. It is merely another tool to help greatly troubled
children reach well-adjusted adulthood.

Walter E. Crews, Director of Police Services, Memphis Police Department