Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jul 2006
Source: Kootenay News Advertiser (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Kootenay News Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.kootenayadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2651
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n876/a10.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

DRUG POLICY

Dear Editor,

Good intentions are no substitute for effective drug education. 
Independent evaluations of Drug Abuse Resistance Education have found 
the program to be either ineffective or counterproductive. Students 
who realize they've been lied to about marijuana may make the mistake 
of assuming that harder drugs like methamphetamine are relatively 
harmless as well. Drug education programs must be reality-based or 
they may backfire when kids are inevitably exposed to drug use among 
their peers.

One recreational drug and the one most closely associated with 
violent behavior is often overlooked. That drug is alcohol, and it 
takes far more lives each year than all illegal drugs combined. 
Alcohol may be legal, but it's still the number one drug problem.

Sincerely,

Robert Sharpe, MPA
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake