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Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) |
No longer can we associate substance abuse with only the criminal element of our society. The devastating consequences are evident throughout our society. Our nation's infatuation with drugs and alcohol victimizes each and every person, even those who do not use them. Increased instances of violent crime, robbery, burglary, and traffic accidents can be attributed to drugs and alcohol. In the work place, employers blame drugs and alcohol for decreased productivity, more disciplinary problems, and absences due to illness. We all pay the price!
Some believe the solution to the substance abuse problem is to pass more laws, employ more policemen, prosecutors and judges, and build more prisons. The sad truth is that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. As long as our society demands drugs and is willing to pay whatever is necessary to get them, there will always be those who are willing to take risks to supply them. The only way to put drug suppliers out of business is through the proper balance of enforcement and education which results in increased risks and reduced profits for the suppliers. D.A.R.E. attempts to reduce the demand for drugs by teaching children the knowledge and skills needed to resist drugs. There are no quick solutions to our deeply-rooted drug problem. However, there is hope. Efficient prevention programs, combined with vigorous enforcement, will have a positive impact upon our drug problem.
Establish family rules that make the use of drugs non-negotiable. Educate yourself about drugs, so you can talk informatively with your children and answer their questions. Since peer pressure is a major factor in teen drug use, know your children's friends. Talk with other parents. Try to establish uniform rules that make access to drugs harder for your children and their friends, such as a curfew, the amount of spending money they receive, and their use of a car. If problems arise, try to seek advice and counsel from someone both you and your child respect and can relate to. Here are ten easy steps you can take to prevent the use of alcohol by children. If you have no children, please pass this information to a friend, neighbor, or relative who does.
D.A.R.E. is an innovative project designed to build a strong, drug free youth. This project uses a curriculum designed to help young people resist the pressures of substance abuse while developing strong decision making skills. The project focuses on accurate information about substance abuse with the major focal points being marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. The lessons deal with the consequences of abuse, building self-esteem, providing ways to resist and identify peer pressure, and alternatives to drug use. The curriculum is taught by highly trained uniformed law enforcement officers who are assigned to a classroom and have immediate credibility with the students. The D.A.R.E. project addresses drug and alcohol use on a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. This program can be implemented in the regular classroom schedule. Each session is designed to be taught in a 45-60 minute period in the senior level class of the elementary school and junior high school. There are seventeen sessions at these levels. The Kindergarten through fourth grade lessons consist of 4-5 sessions that are 20 minutes in length.
From Teachers... "Even the most reluctant student is beginning to respond." "The D.A.R.E. program should be a must for all elementary age students. It teaches the students that a policeman can be their friend and that he/she really cares about what happens to them." From Principals... "There is a more positive attitude toward police officers at the school." "I am extremely pleased with this program. The children seem much more aware of problems and how to deal with them." From Students... "D.A.R.E. has helped to give me the confidence I need to say no." "Once someone offered me drugs, but I said no. That someone kept asking me, but I ran away." From Parents... "Project D.A.R.E. has left a lasting impression on my daughter. In fact, it had an impact on our whole family." Independent evaluations of D.A.R.E. indicate a positive change in attitudes about drugs. Students' opinions of their own self-worth, their willingness to share feelings, and general knowledge concerning the consequences of drug use improved significantly. Ninety-four percent of the students involved in the D.A.R.E. program felt their experiences had been valuable. But, the schools and police can't do it all. Everyone must do their part.
In 1983, the Los Angeles, California, Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District developed a drug abuse prevention program entitled D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for presentation to elementary school students. This training would precede the negative peer pressure that students face in junior high and senior high schools. Ten officers were selected for the program. Prior to entering the classroom, each of the officers participated in an eighty hour training course. They were taught officer-school relationship, development of self-esteem, peer pressure resistance techniques, narcotic recognition, communication skills, child development and classroom evaluations.
D.A.R.E. was initially implemented in the Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington in 1986. The pilot program proved so successful that D.A.R.E. was adopted as a part of the elementary curriculum in the Spring of 1987. Efforts are being made to expand D.A.R.E. across the state. In 1987, Kentucky State Police, assisted by Kentucky Department of Education, expanded the D.A.R.E. program into 50 elementary schools in Boyd, Rowan, Scott, and Daviess counties. It is anticipated that D.A.R.E. will soon be available to students in all 120 Kentucky counties. Project D.A.R.E. has undergone numerous evaluations by skilled researchers with similar results reported in most jurisdictions. The D.A.R.E. students overwhelmingly accepted the D.A.R.E. program and felt it was successful. Principals and teachers reported positive changes in individual students, classes, and schools. Additionally, school personnel reported an increase in positive attitudes towards law enforcement personnel, a reduction in school vandalism, truancy and disciplinary actions, an increase in self-confidence levels, and a more positive attitude toward school. The future of D.A.R.E. is very encouraging. With strong leadership and dedicated professionals working together, the young people of Kentucky will have the necessary tools to resist negative influences in their lives.
With a school's administrative assistance, Project D.A.R.E. provides:
It would be appreciated if you could:
Kentucky State Police Academy Lexington-Fayette Division of Police Kentucky Department of Education |
