By: Arron Brown

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, founded in 1983, is one of the most well-known attempts in the United States to educate young people about the dangers of drug abuse and to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

By the late 1980s, D.A.R.E. had gained national attention, leading to its adoption by school districts across the United States. Its popularity was fueled by the program’s strong media presence and public and politicians endorsements.

The D.A.R.E. program peaked in the 1990s, with its curriculum being taught in thousands of schools nationwide. D.A.R.E. was implemented in more than 75% of U.S. school districts, including many here in Western New York, and was adopted internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The program’s trademark was the involvement of uniformed police officers who would visit schools to deliver lessons on drug prevention. The curriculum was designed to be interactive, using role-playing and discussions to engage students effectively. Over time, the program expanded to include a wider range of topics, such as violence prevention, bullying, and decision-making skills.

D.A.R.E has taught students good decision-making skills to help them live and lead productive lives for over 40 years. In schools across America, D.A.R.E has given students the tools and resources they need to stand up to the peer pressure of using drugs or making poor decisions. In an ever-changing world, with more and more being asked of young people and families, the D.A.R.E program has been instrumental in helping students live their best lives. From the pressures of school, family, athletics, social media, and more, the resources that D.A.R.E. offers cannot be understated.

D.A.R.E’s curriculum was redesigned in 2001 to include a more comprehensive approach and emphasis on drug education, focusing on decision-making skills, social and emotional learning, and resistance techniques. Despite these changes, ongoing debates about the program’s impact took place. Many school districts in the United States chose to discontinue D.A.R.E. programs. Currently, 52% of school districts offer D.A.R.E

Today, D.A.R.E. continues to operate, in a modified form. The program has modified its offerings to address a wider range of issues beyond drug prevention, including violence, bullying, and internet safety. While it no longer enjoys the same level of popularity as it did in its heyday, D.A.R.E. remains active in many communities and continues to evolve its approach based on research and feedback.

In my opinion, as an educator, the best education and most effective drug prevention occurs at home. Open and honest communication between children and parents or guardians is essential. Parents play the most important role in the lives of their children and the influence that they have is tremendous. While conversations and lessons at school are important, there is an even greater impact when parents are involved.

Your Bliss is not affilicated with the D.A.R.E. program, its logos, or any of its other copyrights. All logos and names are used for educational and informational purposes only.