A simple acronym with a big message, D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is a program that teaches children not only to refuse illicit drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, but also how to avoid gangs and violence. The program stresses decision-making skills and resistance techniques through inter-active participation.

More

• Texas D.A.R.E. Institute at San Marcos, Texas
• D.A.R.E. America in California - Has a children's section with interactive games as well as an adult section

D.A.R.E. was developed by the Los Angeles Police Department in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1983, and was the first pro-active law enforcement program in the United States to attack the substance abuse problem from a demand-reduction perspective.

The curriculum is organized into 45-minutes lessons presented over seventeen weeks on topics such as:

• Consequences of Taking Illegal Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco
• Resistance Techniques - Peer Pressure and Media Pressure
• Assertiveness - Confident Response
• Resisting Gangs and Violence/Vandalism
• Positive Role Models - High School Students Who Have Made Positive Choices In Their Lives

Since the Harris County Sheriff's Department implemented its D.A.R.E. Program in 1989, over 80,955 fifth and sixth grade students have completed the elementary level curriculum. In addition, there have been over 296,945 students in Kindergarten through Fourth Grades involved in weekly visitation lessons.

The Harris County Sheriff's Department D.A.R.E. Program primarily targets the exiting level of elementary school, usually 5th or 6th grade. These youngsters have not yet progressed from the sheltered environment of elementary school to the social climate of middle school in which students may be more susceptible, for the first time to make choices or decisions about issues that could affect their health and lives forever. In many cases, it has been found to be the middle school level in which young people are first likely to be led by their peers to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. By teaching D.A.R.E. in these grades, the children are more receptive to prevention education.

School districts and private/parochial schools in unincorporated Harris County are provided the D.A.R.E. Program through inter-local agreements, and include the following:

Crosby ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Humble ISD, Klein ISD, North Forest ISD, St. Edwards Catholic School, Salem Lutheran School, and Waller ISD

Experts recognize that stemming the problem of substance abuse and gang violence must be addressed by educating the young people who are most susceptible. In 1999 the prestigious Journal of School Health accepted for publication a major new study by Professor Joseph F. Donnermeyer concerning the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. Program. This study conducted by Ohio State University found that D.A.R.E. works…that D.A.R.E. makes a positive difference in students' attitudes and behavior in resisting substance abuse.

Evaluation reports on the D.A.R.E. Program indicated that students derive the following immediate benefits:

• Increased self awareness
• Positive relationships with law enforcement
• Reduced peer pressure and balanced values for all types of responsible behaviors
• Skills to resist using drugs
• Decreased in vandalism and gang activity
• Increased capacity to make decisions and solve problems
• Increased understanding of impact of harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
• Increased understanding of mixed messages from the media
  

A pilot program in conjunction with the University of Akron and Humble Independent School District was begun during the 2000-2001 school year for the junior high/middle school. Thus far, the curriculum has been presented to 2,144 students at the 7th grade level. Additionally, this program incorporates a five-year study in which the long-term effects of the D.A.R.E. Program will be evaluated.

Beginning with the fall semester, 2003, Harris County Sheriff's Department will, in conjunction with the University of Akron, offer a seven-week core curriculum to 9th grade students. This next step in the curriculum process will provide continuity in the educational process allowing students to continue utilizing the decision-making skills learned at the elementary level. The 9th grade curriculum focuses on inter-active discussions by the students to determine choices and consequences in light of their unique environments and daily situations.

Over the years our D.A.R.E. Unit has received countless written testimonials from D.A.R.E. students and parents relating situations in which they were offered illicit drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, and subsequently refused them utilizing resistance and assertiveness skills taught by our deputies. One child even went so far as to refuse medication during an emergency room visit until he could speak with his D.A.R.E. deputy.

Many of our former elementary D.A.R.E. students now participate in the program as high school role models. All have expressed their gratitude for having been given the educational opportunity through their school districts to be involved in D.A.R.E.

In addition to the D.A.R.E. Program, our deputies are actively involved in Junior Achievement classes, the annual Red Ribbon Boat Ride, National Night Out, Hispanic Forum, and Commissioner El Franco Lee's Annual Street Olympics. The health and safety of the children and youth of unincorporated Harris County is a top priority for the Harris County Sheriff's Department.