Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> by a national organization which does not take into account local coriditions, cultural values, etc <br /> Unlike som :other programs, it does not encourage parental invoh~ement ~ is newsletters or other <br /> commum~auon; nor are students permitted to take the educational matertals home to show their <br /> parents. They also felt that the curriculum itself was "sof•.•' on alcohol and had very little <br /> information on the harms of tobacco -probably the moss dangerous and common substance our <br /> children could be using. The study also faulted the DARE program for its lacl: of definitions of <br /> such crucial terms as "misuse" and "wrong". <br /> The point, however, is not to bash the DARE program, but rather to take an objective <br /> look at this use of county and federal dollars and determine how to get "the best bang for the <br /> buck" There are other programs available which tnay be better suited to preventing drug abuse <br /> among our children. One cited in the Massachusetts report is called "Here's Looking at You <br /> ?000" which is a ven• comprehensive K-12 curriculum with 150 lessons which encouraees <br /> parental involvement. Another highly touted program is one called Life Skills which was written <br /> up in Time in \ovember 1996. <br /> I urge the Committee to carefully examine the record of the DARE program and to look <br /> into the other cities such as Oakland and Seattle which have canceled DARE and elected to fund <br /> alternative, potentially more effective drug prevention programs. <br /> I thank you for permitting me to submit this testimony today. I would be pleased to offer <br /> the Council further information or assistance. <br /> Pamela Lichty, MPH <br /> Assistant Clinical Professor <br /> University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Public Health <br /> <br />