SAYING NO TO DRUGS

Officer Frank Caruso's Golden Pen Award is well deserved ["DARE's 'straight
talk' can be effective, "Talk Show, Jan. 25]. There are people out there
who would destroy the good work that he and others like him have
accomplished and would continue to accomplish.

If these people can convince the general public that DARE is not working
they will have access to those funds to further their own political
agenda.The fact is that Dare program is working.

Teaching youngsters the ramifications of using drugs,then letting them
decide for themselves to say no and be armed with a way to say it is "the
key to prevention."

Joe Pitta
Garden Grove

Mr.Pitta is a drug awareness chairman of the Garden Grove Elks.