Doubt cast on DARE program

U.S. study calls copled effort ineffectual in cutting drug use

By Lisa STARI LEDGER STAFF

It ranks as the most popular youthoriented drug education program in the
country, has been embraced in 41 other countries and is a fixture in nearly
900 New Jersey schools.

But the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program better known as DARE
doesn't help keep kids off drugs at all, according to a U.S. Department of
Justice report soon to be released.

"There is not a scientifically sound study that shows DARE prevents kids
from using drugs," said Joel Brown, director of Educational Research
Consultants, which conducted a threeyear study of the program that is to be
part of the federal findings due out next month.

The view of DARE and other antidrug programs as failing their mission
essentially a variant on the "Just Say No" theme first trumpeted during the
Reagan administration comes at a time when drug use among teenagers is on
the rise.

Brown and other researchers who have studied a range of antidrug efforts
cite a University of Michigan survey that showed marijuana use among eighth
graders nationally tripled from 6 percent to 18 percent between 1991 and
1996. Others have noted that heroin is now pure enough to be just snorted
or smoked, and is increasingly spreading from urban areas to more affluent
suburbs.

(photo)

Piscataway policeman Jerry Mahoney reviews the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program for fifth graders at the Arbor School in Piscataway.

Researchers say the philosophy behind DARE police officers in classrooms
warning fifth and sixthgraders, for the most part, about the dangers of drug
use doesn't promote open, honest discussion among students, who often get
conflicting messages about drugs in their communities.

"Kids want to have real discussions of drugs, not just hear 10 ways to 'Just
Say No."' said Brown. "When kids get old enough, they reject those messages,
and the ones bringing the message."

And some New Jersey students agree. Several students at Columbia High School
in Maplewood dismissed the program as ineffective.

"They did it when you were too young," said Sarah Bryant, now 17. " I really
don't remember anything. It wasn't nothing that special. If it was, it would
have stuck in my mind."

At Union High School, students had similar reactions.

"I used to say I'm not going to do drugs, but when I turned 12, that's when
pot kicked in," said Tony Abridelloa, a 14yearold sophomore. "'The only way
to get drugs out of Union is to knock out Newark and New York City."

But Daniel Skelton, principal of the Frelinghuysen Middle School in
Morristown, said, "'We've had the program for six years and I have nothing but
positive feelings about it."

To "graduate" a program, students must take 17 classes that are each 45
minutes long. They normally receive certificates showing they've completed the
courses. But there is no followup to determine the longterm benefits, a
situation that Denise Zimmer, executive director of DARE New Jersey, said
needs to be changed.

Many school administrators say they retain faith in DARE, but concede it
should only be part of a much larger campaign. DARE officials admit it may
need some finetuning and can't be expected to work alone.

Ralph Lochridge, a spokesman for DARE America, said some studies, including
one released two years ago by Ohio State University, support DARE. He said the
failure results from parents and community groups failing to reinforce what
DARE is teaching.

"DARE is not a magic bullet it's just one little piece," Lochridge said.
"The problem is that the parents of these kids are baby boomers who
experimented with drugs themselves. They are reluctant to send a clear message
about the dangers of drug use."

Nicholas De Mauro, founding president of DARE New Jersey and a New Milford
police detective, said the program has never touted as a sure thing for drug
abuse prevention. The program, he insisted, is still "in its infancy."

Launched in Los Angeles in 1983 as the brainchild of thenPolice Chief Daryl
Gates, it linked police officers promoting selfesteem and clean living with
elementary schoolchildren who might be tempted to experiment with narcotics.
The program was widely praised at the start. Even Chelsea Clinton is a
graduate.

DARE New Jersey began in 1988 and has extended to Australia, Italy, Spain,
England, Costa Rico and Mexico, among scores of other receptive nations.

DARE is turning to new approaches to increase its effectiveness, officials
say. In New Jersey, a DARE advisory board of drug abuse prevention specialists
which will "look at where we should focus and the direction we should take,"
De Mauro said.

Nationally, DARE afterschool pilot programs offer chess, gardening clubs,
tutorial help and recreational activities in innercity schools. That program,
known as DARE Plus, is available in New York, Los Angeles Washington, D.C.,
and Chicago.

Though classroom sessions headed by a police officer are at the core of the
program, other DAREsponsored events, like dances and other activities can be
held in a community and Tshirts and other DARE items sold to help drive
home the point about the dangers of abusing drugs.

Despite DARE's detractors, the number of participating New Jersey schools is
increasing and currently there are 425 police departments and some 1,160
police officers in DARE programs in 857 public and parochial schools,
organization officials say. De Mauro said he is not aware of any New Jersey
districts that have dropped the program.

Elizabeth Superintendent of Schools Thomas G. Dunn Jr., who noted there are
other antidrug efforts at work in the district, said he is watching the DARE
studies to determine whether the district's program should be modified or
eliminated, but he said it is a good deal.

"The cost (to a school district) is negligible," Dunn said. " 'The police
officers' salaries are paid by their departments."

De Mauro said DARE New Jersey holds its own fundraising to provide
workbooks to districts and most of the cost of a police officer's DARE
training, and also receives state money.

The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse indirectly contributes
to DARE annually for example, giving $682,021 in 1994 for 217 program
activities. Last year, the council spent $731,644 on 239 DARE activities and
this year budgeted $699,745 for 274 DARE events. De Mauro said DARE receives a
small grant from the state Department of Health.

But even some law enforcement officers haven't bought into DARE.

"I still believe we have to educate our youth, but the statistics (on drug
abuse) are staggering," said Hackettstown Police Chief Leonard Kunz. "How
successful have we been?"

A number of cities nationally have the answer: Not very. In Seattle, the
program was eliminated after Police Chief Norm Stamper labeled it "an enormous
failure." School districts in Spokane, Wash., and Oakland, Calif. have also
dropped the program.

StarLedger reporter Barry Carter and the Associated Press contributed to this
article.