LOCAL CHILDREN, TEENS THINK D.A.R.E. PROGRAM IS WORKING

Regardless of what adults and survey-takers may think about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E program, area children interviewed think the program's working just fine.

Students from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois said the D.A.R.E. program has given them good information about what drugs are and how they can hurt people. The program works, they said, because it arms them with facts rather than fiction and prepares them for situations in which someone offers them drugs.

"I really liked it because it taught you a lot of stuff," said Mayakka Ray, 12, of Cape Girardeau. "I think it works if you really listen and understand what people are doing. I don't think I'd have a problem remembering it if I were in that situation."

Like others associated with the program, Ray said it only works for kids who are interested. Many of the students liked the uniformed police officers who taught their D.A.R.E. classes, and said the officers know how to make the class fun as well as educational.

"I liked our D.A.R.E. officer," said Laurel Berry, 11, of Fredericktown. "They know how to make the class interesting and we always get stuff for being in the class."

The drug awareness curriculum also has support from parents. Many say the only improvement they would make would be to have a "refresher course" for D.A.R.E. graduates at the secondary level.

"I think it's a positive class for the kids to have," said Cheri Berry. "I'd like to see all kids in every grade have the class."

Carla Griffin of Jonesboro, Ill., said the class not only needs reinforcement at different grade levels but also from different people. "I think that it's real helpful when they hear the message from a variety of people," she said. "Not just from police officers, but teachers, parents, everybody needs to be telling these kids that drugs are bad for you."

Laurel Berry said she thinks she will remain drug-free, mainly due to what she learned in the D.A.R.E. program. The class helped because it made her aware.

"I didn't know about it before," she said. "Our officer taught us the different words and what they mean, and how drugs affect the body. I know what not to do now."