D.A.R.E. TO HELP OUR SCHOOL KIDS MAKE IT

Sheriff Ira Edwards is hoping the Athens-Clarke County Commission will
reverse its decision of last June and resume budgeting for the county's
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

Me too.

By a vote of 7 to 3, the commission cut off its $45,000 funding in the wake
of a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office that "no evidence exists
that D.A.R.E. keeps kids off drugs."

The sheriff disputes the numbers involved and declares they "do not mean
anything."

As UGA professor and noted statistics expert Doug Bachtel often says,
"There are lies ... and then there are damned lies."

National D.A.R.E. Executive Director Glenn Levant adds: "Scientists tell
you that bumblebees can't fly, but we know better."

D.A.R.E. happens to be the leading drug prevention program in the world. It
has been in Athens since 1989, and recently was placed under the sheriff's
department to go into elementary and middle schools.

The objective is to give kids an awareness of the harmful effects of drugs.
District 2 Commissioner Harry Sims points out that it goes further than
that. Sims was quoted in this newspaper last Tuesday that D.A.R.E.
"enhances problem-solving skills and teaches children to stay away from
violence."

It also exposes youngsters to law enforcement officers on a regular
positive basis.

I don't know how many kids pay real attention, genuinely internalize and
actually avoid drugs and violence as a result of hearing the D.A.R.E.
message. But it's certainly better than no message at all.

A big part of what the sheriff wants to do is to develop a tracking system
to show the long-term effects of the program in Clarke County.

Obviously, Athens continues to have a drug problem among younger as well as
older people. A recent article by Athens Banner-Herald staff writer Kate
Carter headlined "Drug culture persists in A-C high schools" (Athens
Banner-Herald, Nov. 26) reported that the Clarke County School District is
seriously considering drug dog searching and random drug testing for
students next fall.

Schools Superintendent Lewis Holloway states: "We've got significant
concern about drugs."

Tack on the fact that our county jail is seriously overcrowded, with 60 to
70 percent of the crimes being drug related.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug," Edwards points out.

Most of the money needed locally for D.A.R.E. goes for training, materials
and vehicle upkeep. The governor's office is buying into the program to the
tune of $15,000. Another $11,000 or so is coming from the Clarke County
School District. Financial support from the public is also needed -- unless
the county commission dares to come through once more.

I can't believe that they would shoot it down a second time. After all,
what is a mere $45,000 to a government that's been spending zillions on
things like bike transportation, house moving and endless consultants?