School-based DARE program offers scant results

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COMBAT officials allocate just over $1 million a year for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

However, even supporters can’t provide proof that teaching thousands of elementary and young middle-school children about the dangers of drugs has kept them from using drugs when they get older. Reputable national studies consistently show a lack of impact.

Given that, should the county spend more on a “feel good” program that sends law enforcement officers to visit schools? No doubt, the visits often please principals, teachers and parents who like seeing officers in the schools.

But is this the highest, best use of officers and tax dollars?

If schools want to continue the program, perhaps they could finance it, along with local law enforcement agencies, as is done in much of the nation.

COMBAT then could target the freed-up funds to provide more effective treatment and prevention programs.

Posted on Sat, Oct. 24, 2009 10:15 PM

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