Dare...is it really all it's cracked up to be?

• Program is run by a politically motivated entity like your local sheriff. Is he really serious about having a good program or about getting re-elected? All to often, I believe it's the latter.
• Public school systems, community groups and parents all to often use DARE as a crutch thinking that this absolves them of there on-going duty to teach kids to stay high on life. Substance abuse prevention requires constant reminders. No 10 -12 week class in 5th grade is going to prepare kids for a society with such confusing attitudes on mind altering lifestyles.
• I believe teaching kids in the fifth grade is way too early. I recall reading a study done many years ago that pointed out that kids when shown different types of drugs lost there fear of them. I believe it was the Ford Foundation that did the study but I unfortunately didn't save it. However, that's  quite a revelation. In other words, it's like saying 9 out of 10 kids say they won't use drugs AND they fear them. However, after the prevention training in which they were show actual drugs, over half were no longer afraid of drugs. They all stated however, that they wouldn't use drugs. So my premise is that showing drugs just helps them lose their fear of them. In time, that could be a contributing factor in helping them decide to go with the crowd and use drugs.

 

• Sat, 14 Apr 2001 US CA: PUB LTE: DARE's Lessons In addition, I learned more about new drugs through these programs than I did from all of my friends throughout the years. The first time that we heard about Ecstasy was through an anti-drug program and by the end of the month many of my friends had already tried it. If had not been for that program I would probably be ignorant of its existence today. 
• Mon, 19 Feb 2001, CN BC: Guest Column: When It Comes To Drug-Abuse Programs If "feel-good" programs like DARE were stopped, we'd likely see no change on the youth drug scene but we would have more time and money to spend on our kids: money to buy necessary school supplies, time to teach necessary skills, and resources to provide effective services to the kids who don't say "no" to drugs. 
• Fri, 17 Nov 2000: US UT: OPED: Students Sound Off About Dare Program "The only reason I went to DARE was so I could get a DARE T-shirt and go to Raging Waters for five bucks." -- Chris Eaton, senior
• Fri, 22 Sep 2000: US UT: Mayor Takes Heat For Quitting DARE ``I know this is a net political loss for me,'' Anderson said this week about his decision to eliminate DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education - after its 10-year association with Salt Lake City. ``But DARE is a complete fraud on the American people and has actually done a lot of harm by preventing the implementation of more effective programs.''
• Mon, 24 Jul 2000, US TX: University Checking D.A.R.E. Institute's Research
• Mon, 17 Jul 2000,  US WI:Oconomowoc To Lose DARE
• Sat, 15 Jul 2000 , US UT: Anderson Pulls Plug On DARE
• Fri, 30 Jun 2000, US NJ: LTE: Who Says Dare Doesn'T Work?
• Thu, 29 Jun 2000, US NE: Editorial: No Tears At End Of DARE
• Sat, 13 May 2000, US GA: DARE Program Enjoys Popularity
• Thu, 11 May 2000, US NC: Editorial: Resisting DARE
• Thu, 11 May 2000, US IL: District 96 Panel Proposes  Changes To DARE Program
• Thu, 11 May 2000, US ME: OPED: DARE's Lessons Learned
• Mon, 08 May 2000, US CT: Rift Puts Dare On The Chopping Block
• Mon, 01 May 2000 CN AB: Instructors Dare To Take On New Roles "It's a program I really believe in," Carpenter said.  "It's a chance to work hands-on with the Grade 6 students.One of the goals is to reach     youth at a younger age so we (the RCMP) have a positive influence on     them - rather than having to deal with them later when it won't be so     positive."
• Mon, 01 May 2000 US CA: Kiwanis Club Drops Donations To Simi DARE Program Reg Richardson sought out his son for the answer to a simple question.     How far does a T-shirt go in the fight against drugs?
• Thu, 27 Apr 2000 US VA: DARE Officers Leaving Elementary Schools(going to middle schools) To replace the DARE program in elementary schools, officials are developing an anti-drug education program that will be patterned after one used in Michigan schools.
• Sat, 15 Apr 2000 US MI: OPED: DARE Indoctrination Fails To Work And Ends Up Endangering Families
• Tue, 28 Mar 2000  US OK: Board Balks At  Reversing DARE Cuts. Oklahoma's need for a statewide criminal history computer network takes priority over helping cities and counties start DARE -- Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- programs, several board members said
• Wed, 01 Mar 2000 D.A.R.E. -- Failing our kids A special report in The Detroit News. Very extensive news series. Should make eve the DARE officer's question the program.
• Thu, 24 Feb 2000 US FL: What They Learned In Dare Program (what kids write)
• Sat, 05 Feb 2000 US AL Huntsville-Last month, the City Council voted to pay $3.5 million to seven young me who said they were sexually molested by a DARE officer in 1995.
• Wed, 02 Feb 2000 US CA: Upland Police Department Suspends Dare Program Citing lack of manpower, the Upland Police Department suspended its DARE program this week, but members of the community DARE committee say they will fight to get it back.
• Thu, 20 Jan 2000 US MD My child was 9 years old during the program.  She and her friends still hold hands.  Some still sleep with stuffed animals, and most parents we know still shield their 9-year-olds from the evening news.  Yet the DARE program explained to her the difference between Mexican heroin and Asian heroin, that drugs are injected as well as inhaled, and that there is such a thing as an 8-year-old alcoholic. Are there any studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of the DARE program or the question of age appropriateness?
• Mon, 17 Jan 2000  US CA: Recovering Police Chief Provides Inspiration For DARE
• Mon, 17 Jan 2000  US OK: Talihina Board Fires Noted DARE Officer.
• Sun, 26 Dec 1999; US MI: Drug Resistance Program Goes Beyond Just A Dare. Smart moves replaces DARE
• Sun, 19 Dec 1999: US ID: D.A.R.E. Under Fire
• August 1999, Vol. 67, No. 4, 590–593 ©1999 by the American Psychological Association. Project DARE: No Effects at 10-Year Follow-Up
• Fri, 19 Nov 1999  US MI: Minneapolis Schools Drop Out Of Dare Program Instead, district officials say, kindergartners through seniors will learn a new comprehensive health program covering drug resistance and also everything from first aid to exercise to emotional health to body systems.
• Tue, 3 Aug 1999, US: Study Fails to Find Value in DARE Program
• Fri, 18 Jun 1999, US CA: Editorial: Do We Dare Say It?
• Tue, 9 Mar 1999: US CA: Girl, 10, Dared To Scream
• Sun, 27 Sep 1998: Source: New York Times (NY) JUST SAY MAYBE: SECOND THOUGHTS ON COPS IN THE CLASS