Police back drug education program despite questions over effectiveness

Mdjonline ^ | 21 August 2002 | Mike Sampogna

[JediGirl]

Sounds like a really intelligent police force....

It is good to hear that some DARE programs are being shut down. They're a massive failure, a joke to all kids involved (the biggest thrill is the free candy from Officer Randy) and an all-around waste of money and other resources.

[JediGirl]

bong

[JediGirl]

“Why DARE?” he asked. “Of all the drug awareness programs I have been exposed to, it is the most effective. In Marietta alone, we have worked with about 8,000 students.”

That statement says it all. Either he hasn't been exposed to many drug awareness programs or all "drug awareness programs" are a big joke (I suspect the latter..)

[Wm Bach]

Just remember, it's all about the Camaro.

[WindMinstrel]

“I read about the criticism about a year ago,” she said. “But I think it is a very good program."

In other words, the doesn't care what the studies say -- she still likes it. Ah, such wisdom.

"I feel like any time a child has an opportunity to hear that message and see the results of drug use, it’s a wonderful program.”

All propaganda is good propaganda, eh? especially if its with someone else's money.

[headsonpikes]

I believe that DARE is an excellent program.

What better method could the State use to expose itself as a lying predatory beast?

Seriously. Any program that teaches the kids to be cynical and distrusting of puffed-up 'authorities' is a good one.

IMHO.

[Dakmar]

Are you saying that alcohol is not a drug?

[Nathan Jr.]

Here's what kids need to know:

Drugs Are Really Expensive

[Dakmar]

If lumping alcohol in with heroin is a mistake, then lumping pot in with heroin is the lie of the millennium. Keep in mind though, the program is named Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education.

[philman_36]

More than a dozen studies indicate the program has little effect on reducing drug or alcohol use.
Snip...Councilman Johnny Sinclair said he supports the program until someone proves he should not.
“I’m for it,” he said. “Show me the figures and I’ll go to Chief Moody and talk to him about what else we need to do. But I won’t change my opinion until I see the figures.”
Dude, get a clue and open your eyes instead of walking around with the closed! It's there, you just don't want to see it!
Willful blindness!

[JediGirl]

Marietta Police Chief Bobby Moody, a member of Drug Awareness Resistance Education’s National Advisory Board, discounts the critics who argue the program does little to lower drug use by students.

Nah. It's Drug Abuse Resistance Education, even though the article calls it Drug Awareness Resistance Education...

Title of dare.com's webpage: "DARE America - DARE, drug abuse resistance education"

[Seruzawa]

Well, actually more heroin addicts come from the ranks of alcoholics than from the ranks of potsmokers.

There is no evidence that tobacco use leads to any other illegal drug use.

What's the dif? Many legal drugs like paxil or percodan cause loads of damage to lives and families. The war against illegal drugs is largely concerned with ensuring that the AMA gets its cut for providing addictive drugs. Instead of heroin they push a far worse drug called methadone. They don't like people self-medicating. They lose money.

And don't forget the billions they make with their worthless revolving door treatment programs. The medical profession relys on the war on drugs for a very substantial part of its income.

[Dakmar]

Doh!

[Dakmar]

I think I've seen it on bumperstickers as Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education, though, I know I didn't just make it up. Besides, if the cops can't get it right, why should I, I'm just the sucker paying for it.

[Dakmar]

I will also point out that a big chunk of Partnership For A Drug Free America funding comes from brewers, distillers, and tobacco companies.

[Neckbone]

The ironic part to me as I see Johnny Law preach about the e-vils of addiction brought on by The Demon Weed™ is this: law enforcement agencies are addicts themselves. They are addicted to the big DARE budgets that get siphoned out of our pockets- they are addicted to the Camaro, the glazed eyes of the children that they mistake for looks of adulation, and all the attention. Bear in mind, most of these DARE cops are the kids who spent their formative school years peering out of locker vents. Now they're free.

And armed.

[AdA$tra]

...there is no equivalence...

I completely disagree. Alcohol is by far the most dangerous drug on the street. Tobacco or Alcohol (either one alone) kill hundreds of thousands more people each year than ALL the so-called illegal drugs combined. People who die from tobaccoism just don't make very good headlines. The DARE program here was cancelled as well. The primary purpose seemed to be to quiz kids about their parent's drug use and if they had any guns in their houses. If so, they tried to find out where the guns were kept in each particlular house.

[dcwusmc]

And THAT is the issue: turning kids into snitches... the whole GOAL of the program as far as I can see... it is another manifestation of evil...