MORE THAN JUST D.A.R.E.

This letter is in response to Mr. Curran's letter in The Jersey Journal
Dec. 2, reflecting on the impact D.A.R.E. has had on our community. I must
agree with Mr. Curran. We (The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence of Hudson County, Inc. NCADD Hudson) have for 14 years provided
quantifiable quality alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention education
programs to the Hudson County community. Last year our dedicated staff
provided over 900 classes in the Hudson County schools, recorded the
increase in knowledge via pre and post testing, disseminated materials on
any topic related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) to the
community, gave technical assistance to other agencies wishing to enhance
their knowledge of addiction, and conducted parenting programs in two
public housing sites. For a number of years we have partnered with The
Jersey Journal in informing the community about ATOD.

As professionals in the prevention field have long known, D.A.R.E.,
although a popular program, is extremely limited in scope, and
statistically has no quantifiable outcomes indicating any lasting effect on
the students who participate.

I most particularly agree with Mr. Curran, that the hundreds of millions of
dollars spent on D.A.R.E. could be put to better use; we are spending
limited resources on a program that produces minimal results. Again I
concur with Mr. Curran that prevention education and strategies require a
multi-faceted approach. Ideally, prevention education begins before
kindergarten and continues throughout high school utilizing age appropriate
curriculums, peer leadership groups, parental involvement and education,
and alcohol and drug-free alternative activities. If a comprehensive
prevention education strategy were implemented in schools from kindergarten
through high school, including strong parental involvement, there would be
a marked decrease in the need for early intervention on students.

NCADD Hudson is a private nonprofit agency serving the Hudson County
community and is itself a member of the New Jersey Prevention Network (a
organization of non-profits providing quality ATOD prevention education) in
every county in New Jersey. We are considered the "experts" in prevention
education and programming by the state funding agencies and are extremely
willing to demonstrate our expertise in the community.

Marion J. Fritsch,

Executive Director, NCADD Hudson