DARE TEACHER QUESTIONS CRITICISM

I'd like to thank Robert Sharpe from the Drug Policy Alliance in
Washington, DC, for his letter submitted to the Valley Voice. I am always
curious on how people view the DARE program. To this date I have only
received positive comments on the DARE program from the students I teach
and their parents.

In my opinion, the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is a very
comprehensive educational program. It not only provides the DARE students
(ages 9-10) with facts about drugs, alcohol and tobacco but also the
reasons why these substances are used and/or abused.

In DARE, the students learn about effects of peer pressure, managing stress
and anger, foreseeing behavioural consequences, resisting pro-media
messages, and identifying alternatives to drug use. DARE provides these
kids with effective tools not only to help resist the temptations to try
drugs, alcohol and tobacco but to help deal with everyday issues like peer
pressure and violence.

I am not currently up to date on how many schools in the US are using DARE.
I would like to know how many have dropped DARE and the reasons why...from
what I know, DARE is still very prevalent in US schools.

Sharpe says every independent, methodologically sound evaluation of DARE
has found the programs to be ineffective or counterproductive. I believe
the kids I teach deserve the best drug resistance program available. My
reason for wanting to teach DARE is to make a positive difference in my
students' lives and to give them the tools to help to make that positive
difference. I think the more effective the program, the better it is for
the students.

So if they are available, I would like to see these reports that find this
program ineffective or counterproductive and the reasons....It is my belief
that the DARE program is very pro-active in re-evaluating their program to
help make it better. I think these evaluations would be beneficial in
creating a better DARE program.

Sharpe says the DARE program uses "scare tactics." I would like Sharpe to
tell me what he means by this and provide me with specific examples of
"scare tactics" that he has encountered. DARE provides the students with
information and facts then lets them decide on the appropriate action. I
haven't and wouldn't use "scare tactics." I agree with Sharpe that "scare
tactics" do not work.

Sharpe says "Students who realize they are being lied to about marijuana
often make the mistake of assuming that harder drugs are relatively
harmless as well." The DARE program provides facts about marijuana and
reasons why people use it. We also discuss the effects of marijuana and
the positive and negative consequence of marijuana use. We also discuss
the same things about harder drugs such as cocaine. I would not teach a
program that had me lie to my students. I think being a teacher is about
increasing knowledge of your students by providing them with the facts.

DARE acknowledges the fact these students will be exposed to drug, alcohol
and tobacco use at some point in their lives. It may be their peers,
parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunt or strangers. DARE is providing
the tools and facts to help these students make their own choices about
whether or not to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco. I think the DARE program
fully recognizes the fact it needs to be reality-based to be effective.

Sharpe says alcohol is a dangerous drug and it is often overlooked in these
types of programs. I agree with Mr. Sharpe that alcohol is a dangerous
drug. This is why alcohol is included in the DARE program and it is
thoroughly discussed with the students.

I agree with Sharpe that this program is "feel good." I feel good every
time I walk into that classroom. I feel good when the kids know me by name
and run across the school ground to talk to me. I feel good that these
kids get to spend an hour a week with a police officer for 17 weeks
straight. I feel good these kids have the facts about potentially harmful
substances that they might come across. I feel good about these students
having self-confidence about themselves and the choices they make. I feel
good about the DARE program.

If you have any questions or wish to attend a class to see for yourself
please call me at (250)265-3677

Cst. Mike Wicentowich

Nakusp