CYCLIST DEFENDS DRUG PROGRAM

A 60-year-old grandfather who biked into Edmonton yesterday on a
cross-Canada ride for Drug Abuse Resistance Education - better known as the
DARE program - dismissed dozens of studies that say the program doesn't work.

"You can find something negative in anything," said Stan Wawzonek, who left
St. John's, Nfld., on April 30.

"But if one kid is saved, it's worth it."

The grandfather of eight from Brantford, Ont., plans to reach Victoria by
July 31 to raise awareness about the DARE program his oldest grandson attended.

"I went to four graduations and I'm completely convinced it's a great program."

But dozens of scientific studies in the United States and at least one in
Canada found the program had no long-term effect on kids' drug use.

A University of Kentucky study that tracked more than 1,000 students who
took DARE in Grade 6 found it had "no significant positive effect."

A 12-year juvenile narcotics section detective in Los Angeles -DARE's
birthplace - said the department slashed the number of officers in its DARE
program this spring in favour of more enforcement.

"I did DARE training yesterday. I taught the DARE instructors. I go teach
them what's the latest and greatest on the narcotics scene and what kids
are using, how they're using it, and all that happy stuff, and I tell them,
to their faces, I am not a DARE cheerleader," said Det. Eric Sage.

"If it's not effective in trying to keep kids off drugs, I personally say
get rid of it."

But Edmonton's DARE co-ordinator said a few drug-education classes can't be
expected to stick with kids for life.

"I don't think there's any course you could expect that from. It's not a
magic wand," said Sgt. John Stokker. "There's no follow-up. That's the
problem."

The Edmonton Police Service had 65 DARE officers teaching the program in 82
elementary schools last year, along with their regular patrol duties,
Stokker said.

"We also had 84 schools on a waiting list. There are schools that want the
program. We just don't have the resources."

The 17 lessons, which last about an hour, teach students about drug,
alcohol and tobacco use, but also teach self-esteem and coping skills for
stress and violence, said Stokker.

Stokker said critics might say the program hasn't demonstrated long-term
effects, but that's tough to measure. And he's got a question for anyone
who says it's not worth the resources if it only helps one kid.

"Well, what if that one kid was yours?"