D.A.R.E. NOT EFFECTIVE AS AN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN

Nancy Phillis DAREs anyone to challenge that "saving one
life" isn't worth it. I will.

I've seen this spurious argument many many times in the past,
superficially it sounds as though it has merit, however where the DARE
anti-drug program is concerned saving one life may endanger hundreds
of others in the process.

Study after scientifically peer reviewed study has shown that DARE is
ineffective at its very best, that it doesn't "save one life," and at
its worse, actually causes teens to use drugs (what effect on life
might that have?).

That is important to note because, as Nancy Phillis also notes, "drug
and alcohol use is frighteningly more prevalent than you would
imagine," a result no doubt of a program that has demonstrated a
tendency to increase drug usage and an inability to prevent it.

It is not enough to just do something, we must do the right thing, and
the right thing would not increase drug usage or endanger a single
life.

I challenge everyone to investigate the Life Skills Training program,
it has a more than 80-percent success rate and has not been shown to
increase drug use. It is the only program accredited and endorsed by
the Department of Education, the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration.

DARE has never met the criteria of an effective anti-drug
program.

JIM WHITE

Oregon, Ohio