Thanks, T.O., for preserving DARE for as long as you did

To its credit, the city of Thousand Oaks underwrote the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program after Ventura County scrapped DARE in a cost-cutting spree several years ago. While not perfect, DARE at least tried to persuade young people that using drugs is dangerous. Now it's being canceled altogether.

Although its intentions were noble, there were horror stories about DARE. Some graduates of the program not only used drugs later on, they became drug dealers.

But no program in history was 100 percent effective in preventing drug and alcohol use, not even Prohibition. Even strong families that routinely attend church--another deterrent to drug and alcohol abuse--are not immune.

Let's face it: Some people are going to use drugs or alcohol, and it doesn't matter what they learn in school. Even in homes where drugs and alcohol are forbidden, a person filled with rebellion will sometimes ignore the beliefs and values that were drilled into him.

Another downside to prevention programs is that they deny the often pleasurable effects of drugs and alcohol. It's not realistic to ignore, for example, alcohol's role as a social lubricant that, in moderation, can help reduce stress. Trying to paint ugly pictures of "demon rum" and "reefer madness" are ineffective and counterproductive.

Instead of DARE, the city will pay for a police officer to visit schools and presumably emphasize the not so favorable consequences of drug and alcohol use. Some people who are prone to addiction simply cannot safely consume any substance that intoxicates them or makes them high. Kids should also be reminded that drugs are illegal and that drinking is only for adults.

While DARE wasn't a panacea, the city deserves credit for keeping it alive when no other program was available.

In conclusion, drugs and alcohol are and will remain a problem for the foreseeable future. They're not going to go away, and our schools and city must do whatever they can to inform young people about the risks.