Post by UMaineTeach on Apr 17, 2014 15:32:32 GMT -5
I want to see where CEP stands on this idea. I was listening to Maine Calling on NPR/mpbn radio at lunch and they had some people on discussing marijuana/medical marijuana.
A woman called in to say that she had held her child out of the police anti-drug program DARE, because she didn't want her child being told that pot was bad/illegal when it is legal (in Maine) for medical treatment and that the police sending the message that pot is in the same group as other illegal drugs was harming the people who need it for medicine. I guess she wants her kid to be "MJ positive" to borrow and twist a phrase.
The panel was much in support of this caller and called for law enforcement to change the program. The host tried to say, but we still don't want children using marijuana, right? and the panel responded that there are some kids on MM right now for epilepsy and it's not ok for the DARE program to go around saying that kids should avoid pot.
I am inclined to say keep the DARE program the way it is, as pot is still illegal at a federal level, and maybe change the lessons about pot to be more like the illicit use of Rx drugs or the underage use of alcohol lesson once pot is legal. I still feel that it is important to tell kids not to screw around with drugs and alcohol and how to avoid/navigate social situations that involve drugs or alcohol.
I wouldn't hold my kid out of DARE. What are your thoughts?
I HATE DARE. Talk about using scare tactics and spreading misinformation! Plus, my cousin who teaches middle school reminded me that that do, indeed, ask the kids to rat on their parents. 1984.
Post by NewOrleans on Apr 17, 2014 16:11:45 GMT -5
I read a study once that demonstrated scare programs like DARE were effective only on individuals who had already decided not to engage in the behaviors.
eta: unrelated, but I remember that our DARE officer talked to us about how no one should touch you where your bathing suit is and other stuff. Looking back, I appreciate that.
DARE were effective only on individuals who had already decided not to engage in the behaviors.
This would be me. I was just like "sweet free pencil, ruler, and coloring book!!" I don't remember it being scare tactics. The on;y time the police came and used scare tactics was the time they came to talk about bicycle safety. My parents and I are still a little scarred from the at home fall out of that talk.
I still wouldn't hold my kid out of DARE. (maybe out of bike safety...)
I have some stories to share, but I'm scared because you guys don't really know me. LOL
I was the M.C. of our DARE graduation and was one of those super anti-drug and alcohol kids, and my dad was a huge stoner. I was super annoying and questioned my mom about it and was constantly looking for "evidence". He was probably stoned at the ceremony. I did grow out of that.
I also have a really embarrassing story about the handbook we had to fill out. There was a section where you had to fill out a license plate with a personalized license. I have no imagination, seriously, none. But, I came up with what I thought was a great idea... IH8PIGS. I swear to God I had no idea what this meant, I was 9! I thought pigs were gross. That is all. The officer came up and looked a little confused and said "The animal or people?" and I said, all wide-eyed "The animal." No idea why he would question it. I told my mother about it later because I thought it was odd that he asked me about it and she flipped out and told me what it meant. Seriously one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. I still want to contact that officer and tell him I didn't know.
My dad tried to pull me out of DARE because he was a pothead (he used it medicinally although it was illegal)and he didn't want them brainwashing me. My mom told him that I was opted out when I wasn't. She didn't want the other kids to make fun of me for not attending. I never took it seriously anyway.
Post by doctordonna on Apr 17, 2014 16:40:28 GMT -5
DH was in the DARE program in 1985 or 1986 (he was 10 or 11) and vividly remembers, during the section they did on hallucinogens and what an LSD trip is like, thinking "That sounds AWESOME."
Dare to keep a kid off drugs! Dare to keep a kid off dope!
That's all I got.
I'm so glad someone else remembers the song! They do DARE in sixth grade at the middle school I teach at and I walk around in the fall singing the song and everyone, including the police officer, looks at me like I'm currently tripping.
I have some stories to share, but I'm scared because you guys don't really know me. LOL
I was the M.C. of our DARE graduation and was one of those super anti-drug and alcohol kids, and my dad was a huge stoner. I was super annoying and questioned my mom about it and was constantly looking for "evidence". He was probably stoned at the ceremony. I did grow out of that.
I also have a really embarrassing story about the handbook we had to fill out. There was a section where you had to fill out a license plate with a personalized license. I have no imagination, seriously, none. But, I came up with what I thought was a great idea... IH8PIGS. I swear to God I had no idea what this meant, I was 9! I thought pigs were gross. That is all. The officer came up and looked a little confused and said "The animal or people?" and I said, all wide-eyed "The animal." No idea why he would question it. I told my mother about it later because I thought it was odd that he asked me about it and she flipped out and told me what it meant. Seriously one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. I still want to contact that officer and tell him I didn't know.
I know this was an embarrassing story, but I can't stop laughing at this. That was unfortunate.
I have some stories to share, but I'm scared because you guys don't really know me. LOL
I was the M.C. of our DARE graduation and was one of those super anti-drug and alcohol kids, and my dad was a huge stoner. I was super annoying and questioned my mom about it and was constantly looking for "evidence". He was probably stoned at the ceremony. I did grow out of that.
I also have a really embarrassing story about the handbook we had to fill out. There was a section where you had to fill out a license plate with a personalized license. I have no imagination, seriously, none. But, I came up with what I thought was a great idea... IH8PIGS. I swear to God I had no idea what this meant, I was 9! I thought pigs were gross. That is all. The officer came up and looked a little confused and said "The animal or people?" and I said, all wide-eyed "The animal." No idea why he would question it. I told my mother about it later because I thought it was odd that he asked me about it and she flipped out and told me what it meant. Seriously one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. I still want to contact that officer and tell him I didn't know.
I know this was an embarrassing story, but I can't stop laughing at this. That was unfortunate.
Oh, I don't deny that it is hilarious, but I still feel so awful! That was almost 30 years ago now! I still just cringe when I think of it.
Oh I really don't care. My kids came home with that shit and I told them that some some of the things they were told weren't necessarily true of adults, weren't necessarily harmful but still illegal though not in every state, and some of it is very true and that shit shouldn't be touched.
I also told them that regardless of nuance, as kids, they shouldn't be touching any of that stuff.
Then I poured myself another root beer with vanilla vodka and moved it along.
Post by theoverlander on Apr 17, 2014 18:05:24 GMT -5
Anecdote time! I earned a DARE water bottle in 5th grade for completing the program. It said "DARE to Keep Off Drugs" in huge letters. I used it my senior year of high school to drink Mad Dog 20/20 Orange Jubilee IN CLASS while taking a state test. DARE was useful!
DARE is an ineffective program. There is a butt load of evidence that it is ineffective.
I think the real story here is that the school is still implementing a program that has been shown to be ineffective.
That said, for any drug EDUCATION program to be effective, it must be comprehensive, which would include information regarding the spectrum of use with any drugs of abuse, legal or illegal. That would include the actual scientifically supported evidence regarding all of the benefits of said use, in addition to the side effects and consequences of said use.
Anecdote time! I earned a DARE water bottle in 5th grade for completing the program. It said "DARE to Keep Off Drugs" in huge letters. I used it my senior year of high school to drink Mad Dog 20/20 Orange Jubilee IN CLASS while taking a state test. DARE was useful!
I used mine to drink Sex on the Beach in 8th grade.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by UMaineTeach on Apr 17, 2014 20:06:31 GMT -5
but can it be more useless than sitting in the office doing worksheets or whatever the school comes up with to keep the kid busy and quiet for the hour?
unless you think it is beyond useless and dips into harmful?
I feel like I am defending the program and I don't really want to.
Anecdote time! I earned a DARE water bottle in 5th grade for completing the program. It said "DARE to Keep Off Drugs" in huge letters. I used it my senior year of high school to drink Mad Dog 20/20 Orange Jubilee IN CLASS while taking a state test. DARE was useful!
Fellow in school drinker here. I swear I did great on tests with a little buzz on.
I remember they taught us once about how if someone makes you hold something for you you can still be an accessory to the crime. Now I forget if that was a DARE thing or a regular police guy giving a talk for some reason.
We had two concerts thrown by DARE. One was in the gym and the other was in a big field. They played "everyone do the dinosaur" but no one did the dance. I still dunno how the dance goes.
but can it be more useless than sitting in the office doing worksheets or whatever the school comes up with to keep the kid busy and quiet for the hour?
unless you think it is beyond useless and dips into harmful?
I feel like I am defending the program and I don't really want to.
Yes, because it costs $$$. They are better off doing whatever lesson they would have otherwise been doing at that time. Even for the kids in which any beneficial outcomes are shown, those effects diminish after 6 months. So in six months time, it's like it never happened, and the school district, community, taxpayers, the Feds, whomever is footing the bill is out those resources that would have been better spent on something that works.
DARE isn't even on SAMHSA's NREPP list (national registry of evidence based programs and practices), and that's saying a lot, considering the list itself is flawed in ways.
Some of the best drug ed programs cost nothing. My current favorite is Project Alert. While it's not perfect, you can access the training, materials, lessons, media, and other resources, in English and Spanish, for FREE on their website.
My dissertation is on drug ed, hence the mini rant
Post by ChillyMcFreeze on Apr 17, 2014 21:13:02 GMT -5
My one memory from DARE was that a bullet shot into the air can fall with enough force to crush your skull or something. And I've never done drugs! DARE success story.