It would be of interest to Castlegar readers to know on what basis you have determined the D.A.R.E. program to be “highly successful.”
The opinions of the RCMP members that are being paid to promote the effectiveness of their own program, does not provide any evidence that the program is actually accomplishing the goals that it upholds, namely, “working with school children to equip them with the information and skills they need to make safe and responsible choices,” “As these children grow to be responsible citizens, they will lead healthier and more productive drug-free lives.”
It is interesting, how this program continues to exaggerate its proposed benefits to the liking of parents, teachers, and other organizations while expert critics, that have studied the populations of youth that have been DARE educated, have determined that it is ineffective.
“Scientific evaluation studies have consistently shown that DARE is ineffective in reducing the use of alcohol and drugs and is sometimes even counterproductive — worse than doing nothing. That’s the conclusion of the U.S. General Accounting Office, 1 the U.S. Surgeon General, 2 the National Academy of Sciences, 3 and the U.S. Department of Education, 4 among many others.
http://www.alcoholfacts.org/DARE.html
Steve Clement
Castlegar, BC
