Pubdate: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 Source: Detroit News (MI) Copyright: 2000, The Detroit News Contact: http://data.detnews.com:8081/feedback/ Website: http://www.detnews.com/ Author: Paul M. Bischke, Kevin Michaels DOES THE DARE SCHOOL PROGRAM WORK? I would like to offer The Detroit News staff my wholehearted approval of the story on the issue of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs in public schools (“DARE doesn’t work,” Feb. 27). I offer this praise not because I necessarily have an agenda in the “war on drugs,” but because I feel there is a concerted lack of discourse about these vital matters in almost every American public forum. Kevin Michaels, Milford Thanks for The News’ sensible stance about DARE. Let’s stop wasting drug-prevention dollars on something that doesn’t work — and which may actually be counterproductive. The constructive course of action is clear. Dump DARE. Let police departments do public relations work on their own tabs. Then install an honest and proven drug education program in schools. Any questions? Paul M. Bischke, St. Paul, Minn. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck