Iowa law officers are defending the DARE program, despite a study that saysit’s ineffective in keeping kids away from drugs. The study found students who finished the Drug Abuse Resistance Educationprogram were no less likely to ‘say no’ than students who take no DAREcourses. Story County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig McKinney says the 17-weekprogram teaches kids “life lessons” about self-esteem and resisting peerpressure.The program has been in Iowa for more than ten years now. McKinney ishelping deliver the DARE message to 700 Story County kids in their classrooms.More than 64-thousand Iowa children completed DARE courses last year alone.