Mayor’s Column

John J. Collins

Over the last few months there have been several news stories and

controversies regarding the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

Project. Newspapers have carried editorials questioning the advisability

of retaining the D.A.R.E. Project, along with several pro or con letters

to the editor condemning or extolling D.A.R.E. as an effective

educational program.

Since 1990, I have attended approximately 70 D.A.R.E. culminations where

students and parents assemble to honor the completion of the 17-week, 5th

grade program. As Mayor, I offer my comments on the effectiveness of the

program at these culmination ceremonies.

I tell the students and parents alike that the D.A.R.E. program will not

be an effective deterrent to drug use if it is the only time a child

hears about the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. Parents must not

only tell their children about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse,

they must also be consistent and reliable “role models” reinforcing their

spoken word with their actions. In today’s society, kids have a tough

time finding reliable public role models. Rock stars, movie and TV

personalities, for the most part, seem to have a lot of drug or alcohol

notoriety. And then there is the “athlete arrest of the day” that often

promotes an irresponsible view of substance abuse. Parents must reinforce

D.A.R.E.’s message that responsibility and accountability are part of the

decision making process for a child (or any person for that matter) faced

with partaking of alcohol or drugs.

I also tell students the D.A.R.E. program is an educational process --

not an immunization against doing drugs. If they can remember the

consequences regarding what alcohol and drugs can do to their bodies and

effective ways to resist peer pressure, then when the time comes, they

will be better equipped to make the best choice.

Critics of the program expect that all students of D.A.R.E. will not use

alcohol or drugs. When some do, they assert the program must be a

failure. To be most effective, I believe the D.A.R.E. message must be

integrated into other social and educational programs.

D.A.R.E. is not a “cure-all”! The program stresses social and

decision-making skills as well as techniques for resisting pressures,

assertiveness, stress management and alternatives to alcohol and drug

use. I believe the D.A.R.E. Project’s effectiveness would be enhanced

greatly if it was repeated in the first year of high school.

With all of the “ink” that has been dedicated recently to the D.A.R.E.

controversy, I don’t believe I have seen a printed outline of the

D.A.R.E. curriculum. I suspect many of those critical of the program do

not understand what the program teaches and the critical elements that

can make a positive difference in kids’ lives.

The D.A.R.E. Project helps students:

-understand the role of a police officer.

-understand the harmful effects of misusing drugs.

-understand the consequences, both positive and negative, that result

from using or choosing not to use drugs.

-become aware of the actual extent of drug use among adolescents and the

kind of peer pressure they may face to take drugs.

-learn and practice effective ways to say no in response to different

kinds of peer pressure to use drugs.

-understand that self-image results from positive and negative feelings

and experiences

-understand assertiveness as a technique for refusing offers of drugs.

-recognize stress in their daily lives and suggest ways to deal with it,

other than by taking drugs.

-recognize that destructive acts of violence are inappropriate ways to

deal with anger and to resolve disagreements.

-develop the understanding and skills needed to analyze how the media can

influence the way people feel, think and act about drug use and violence.

-apply the decision making process in evaluating the results of various

kinds of risk taking behavior, including that of using drugs, tagging and

using weapons.

-find out about activities that are interesting and rewarding and that

are appropriate alternatives to drugs.

-become familiar with high school leaders and other positive role models

who do not use drugs (it clarifies the misconception that drug users are

in the majority).

-recognize the negative consequences of gang and group violence, helping

them resist becoming involved.

In a few weeks, Fountain Valley D.A.R.E. Police Officer Mike Becker will

enter Fountain Valley School District classrooms to reach the children

before the drug dealers do.

D.A.R.E. officers in other cities will be doing the same in their school

districts. Will all kids be saved -- regrettably not! Will some -- most

assuredly so!