D.A. R. E.
D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
is a collaborative effort by D.A.R.E. certified law enforcement
officers, educators, students, parents and community to offer an
educational program in the classroom to reduce drug abuse and violence
among children and youth. The emphasis of D.A.R.E. is to help students
recognize and resist the many direct and subtle pressures that influence
them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants,
or other drugs or to engage in violence.
The D.A.R.E. program offers preventive strategies
to enhance those protective factors - especially bonding to the
family, school and community - which research has confirmed fosters
the development of resiliency in young people who may be at risk
for substance abuse or other problem behaviors. The intent is to
increase the capacity of young people for healthy, independent growth
in spite of adverse conditions. These strategies focus on the development
of social competence, communication skills, self-esteem, empathy,
decision making, conflict resolution, sense of purpose and independence,
and positive alternative activities to drug abuse and other destructive
behaviors.
The program content for D.A.R.E. is organized
into seventeen 45 to 60 minute lessons to be taught by a law enforcement
officer with suggested extended activities to be integrated into
other instruction by the classroom teacher. A specially trained
officer is assigned to the school one day a week for one semester
to conduct weekly lessons in grades 5 or 6. Student participation
in the D.A.R.E. program may be incorporated as an integral part
of the school's curricum as appropriate. The classroom teacher should
maintain a supportive
role in classroom management while the officer
is teaching and should incorporate D.A.R.E. program participation
by students as an integral part of the student's final evaluation.
The seventeen lessons of D.A.R.E. are as
follows:
- Introducing D.A.R.E.
- Understanding the Effects of Mind-Altering
Drugs
- Considering Consequences
- Changing Beliefs About Drug Use
- Learning Resistance Techniques--Ways to
Say No
- Building Self-Esteem
- Learning Assertiveness--a Response Style.
- Managing Stress Without Taking Drugs
- Reducing Violence
- Combating Media Influences on Drug Use
and Violence
- Making Decisions About Risky Behaviors
- Saying Yes to Positive Alternatives
- Having Positive Role Models
- Resisting Gang and Group Violence
- Summarizing D.A.R.E. Lessons
- Taking a Stand
- D.A.R.E. Culmination
The D.A.R.E. program - offered in concert with
other school-based prevention activities and intervention strategies
for the identification, early intervention, and aftercare support
of students at risk for substance abuse - may be viewed as a comprehensive
substance abuse program that meets the goals of the Federal Drug-Free
Schools and Communities Act.
