Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2010 Source: Tracy Press (CA) Copyright: 2010 Tracy Press Contact: http://tracypress.com/content/view/2905/2274/ Website: http://www.tracypress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3862 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n380/a08.html D.A.R.E. DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD It is incorrect to write that D.A.R.E. "certainly doesn't hurt" (Second Thoughts, "Does Tracy dare cut this program," Saturday Tracy Press). Nearly every study, including government studies, indicate D.A.R.E. and the revamped model D.A.R.E not only is a failure but it may be causing increased drug use. D.A.R.E. causes higher hard drug addiction rates. (Source: Lynam, Donald R., Milich, Richard, et al., "Project D.A.R.E.: No Effects at 10-Year Follow-Up", Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.) D.A.R.E. fails in part because it teaches lies, half-truths and propaganda about cannabis. How many people hear D.A.R.E. teach that cannabis (marijuana) is bad and then try it and find out it is not nearly as harmful as taught and think other substances must not be so bad, either, only to become addicted to honest hard drugs? D.A.R.E. should be replaced with programs proven effective at helping protect youth from honest hard drugs. Stan White Dillon, Colorado - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D