DARE ISN'T BEST SOURCE FOR DRUG-USE INFORMATION

Unfortunately, the DARE program does not teach students to think for
themselves about drugs ("Students DARE to think," July 13). When
asked, "What is a drug?" students responded not with accurate,
scientific information, but rather with value judgments they have been
taught to dutifully parrot.

Study after study has shown DARE to be ineffective, or even increase
drug use among students (see www.drugpolicy.org/drugeducation). When
Glendale's kids grow up and try marijuana for themselves (as half of
students persistently do before they graduate high school, despite the
government's expensive attempts to alter the situation) they will find
out for themselves that they have been lied to. Sadly, they will then
discount any valuable information that might have slipped through
about the dangers of physically addictive drugs like methamphetamine
and heroin.

A better source of information is Dr. Andrew Weil's book "From
Chocolate to Morphine," which will at least teach children what a drug
is.

Ellen Komp