Don't dare mess with our D.A.R.E. program.

That's the message a group of Widefield School District 3 residents will broadcast to their school board and the El Paso County commissioners today.

The $150,000 Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which is taught in 21 schools in the county, is falling victim to a $1 million budget cut the Sheriff's Office has to make, in part because voters rejected a sales tax increase this month. D.A.R.E programs in city-funded schools are not affected.

The D.A.R.E. program focuses on teaching kids how to avoid negative peer pressure, use decision-making skills and build self-esteem to help them stay away from alcohol and drugs.

Critics point to studies that have shown the program has no long-lasting effects on keeping kids off drugs and alcohol once they're older, but several Widefield parents think it's worked in their district.

"Everyone is upset," said Kathy Myers, who plans to ask the Widefield school board to use district money to pay for the program in its schools.

"My thinking is that you can't afford not to keep this program. It saves so much money down the road when kids take the right road. And it saves the kids themselves."

Her three children, all grown, were inspired by the program, she said.

One of them, Brenna Myers, is a former sixth-grade teacher in Falcon School District 49, and she agreed D.A.R.E. is effective - not only with drug education, but with the mentoring that takes place between deputies and students.

"The deputies go the extra mile," Brenna Myers said. "They take the kids on field trips, give them awards, that sort of thing."

The program has hit close to home: One of the D.A.R.E. deputies has been a mentor to a member of the Myers family.

"My cousin has blossomed under the program," Brenna Myers said.

"I don't want to see this program pulled."

The Widefield School District has not formally been notified that the program is being axed, said D-3 spokesman James Drew. But he said the district supports it.

"If the county does, in fact, cut D.A.R.E., it would be a loss to our district," he said.

Funding for D.A.R.E. is not on today's school board agenda, but Myers is urging D-3 parents to attend the county commission meeting and the school board meeting to rally for the program.

The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. today at the county office building, 27 E. Vermijo Ave. in Colorado Springs.

The Widefield School Board meets at 7 p.m. today at the district administration building, 1820 Main St. in Widefield.

D.A.R.E. was started in the 1980s by the Los Angeles Police Department, and grew nationally when it was touted by Nancy Reagan in her "Just Say No" efforts.

Several studies have concluded it's ineffective in the long run, but advocates say the program has been revised to be more effective.

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said he supports D.A.R.E., but budget cuts made it a prime candidate for the chopping block - especially because it's not mandated by state law as other department programs and services are.