LOVE BETTER THAN DARE

Parksville Letter-writer Heather Sparrow means well, but the allegedly
anti-drug programme DARE in effect dares kids to try psychoactive drugs.
(The News, July 9.)

She doesn't realize how a programme which touches her emotionally fails to
equally affect dare-devil teens. Face the statistics: DARE fails. The
programme's cops try to scare kids into refraining from illegal drugs. That
makes those drugs more appealing to some alienated youth. Many youngsters
want to prove themselves brave by 'beating the odds' that they learn about
in DARE. Many with low self-esteem also feel they deserve the misery that
they learn accompanies the artificial thrill of dope.

What made life bearable for me as an adolescent was music and dancing. Let
the kids dance at least weekly.

Parents wanting to protect their children must first realize that the more
you show your child love, the less they are driven to rebel or to harm
themselves. Start with all the breastfeeding they need. Trying to heal the
society-wide trauma of bottle-feeding, pacifiers, premature weaning, and
premature separation is almost impossible. It haunts me, you, and them,
usually unnoticed in the subconscious mind.

Second, do you model escapism with love-substitutes such as legal drugs
(alcohol, nicotine, caffeine), dope from your shrink, forced drugging
(Ritalin), or sick food?

Also, do you live vicariously, through television, movies, pornography, or
watching sport? Are your days shallow and meaningless, consumed with
shopaholism, workaholism, cars, quarreling, gambling, gossip, or wishful
thinking such as religion?

Korky Day