Drug Abuse Resistance Education is a prevention education program designed to equip elementary, middle and high school children with accurate information and the basic skills necessary to help them make healthy choices regarding the use of drugs, violence, and other dangerous situations. It increases their perceived risks of such behaviors, which reduces their involvement. It also provides education for adults in the community through its Parent and Community programs to assist them in understanding and combating the issues that reinforce the scourge of drugs, gangs, and violence, and reinforces the protective factors necessary to help children make positive choices. Based on the premise that prevention is the only long-term answer to drug abuse and violent behaviors, D.A.R.E. has continued to help communities for over 25 years combat the forces that reduce the quality of life in their neighborhoods. D.A.R.E. programs are provided in over 75% of the nation’s school districts, including all 50 states, creating a positive atmosphere for students to interact with law enforcement. With its global out-reach, D.A.R.E. is provided in 43 foreign countries and all Department of Defense Dependant Schools overseas.

This unique program uses specially trained uniformed law enforcement officers to deliver a formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting and reinforce program concepts and ideals in an informal setting outside the classroom. Community Oriented Policing has become a mainstay in law enforcement with the realization that reducing crime and improving quality of life must be an effort on the part of the entire community. There is no better example of the community policing effort than D.A.R.E. Officers serving as positive role models changing perceptions and attitudes, embracing community resources, dispelling misinformation and helping kids make healthy choices. These are all positive aspects of this pro-active approach to law enforcement.

D.A.R.E is much more than a “just say no to drugs” program. It is a life-skills approach to positive decision making incorporating knowledge of facts, consequences, recognizing influences, and relationships. Students learn and demonstrate effective skills to stay out and/or get out of risky situations and build positive relationships with law enforcement.

D.A.R.E. began in 1983 as a partnership between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District to help prevent drug abuse and violence. The success of D.A.R.E.’s innovative approach soon attracted the attention of law enforcement and education nationwide, and it quickly spread to a national and international icon. The D.A.R.E. logo is the most recognizable trademark, second only to the American Red Cross.

In 1986 Baltimore County brought D.A.R.E. to Maryland. Thanks to several key agencies, it soon spread to every sub-division under the direction of the Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commissions. The Maryland D.A.R.E. Coordinator’s Office was established to provide training, guidance, and resources free of charge, as well as to establish policy, standards, and communications with D.A.R.E. America. It monitors programs and officers, while coordinating efforts for and among local agencies.

In its 25 plus years D.A.R.E. has spread across the country and into foreign nations developing into a national and international program and has been granted “Consultative Status” by the United Nations. From its meager beginnings as an elementary school curriculum under its original local partnership, D.A.R.E. grew into an all encompassing curricula including elementary, middle school/junior high, and high school programs, as well as visitation lesson for K-4 and a parent education program. Today D.A.R.E. programs are delivered in all 50 states and 43 countries. Over the years the curricula have been updated or changed to meet the educational needs of students and communities. After school activities (D.A.R.E. PLUS) and enhancement lessons have been added to keep pace with a variety of contemporary issues facing the youth of today.

Local D.A.R.E. programs may be implemented in conjunction with other prevention and intervention programs, such as School Resource Officer (training which is included in D.A.R.E.), Gang Resistance Education And Training, Eddie Eagle, and others, providing that copyright is not violated. D.A.R.E. Officers many times fill dual roles within the police agency, such as patrol, investigative, special operations, youth, outreach, crime prevention and community policing. Some agencies designate D.A.R.E. Officers as full-time positions dedicated solely to D.A.R.E. operations within the community.

D.A.R.E. curricula may be adopted into a school system’s comprehensive curriculum at specific grade levels to address that grade’s segment of the mandated K-12 Drug Education. D.A.R.E. may also be utilized as an “add-on” program to enhance mandated curricula or substitute for it.

The scheduling design for presenting any curriculum is left to the discretion of the D.A.R.E. Officer/agency and the cooperating school district/administrator. Consideration must be given to the officer’s availability, the school’s schedule, and educationally sound best practices. Lessons may be taught in successive days (one lesson per day for 10 days), or successive weeks (one lesson per week for 10 weeks), or even several lessons per week for a few weeks (every-other day or every three days). Lessons are geared to 45-60 minute class periods, except for visitation lessons, which are shorter in length.

Except on rare occasions due to unforeseen circumstances, all curriculum lessons must be included in the copyrighted D.A.R.E. program for the educational level (elementary, middle, or high school), excluding the K-4 visitations. Although all the D.A.R.E. curriculums are designed to be used in succession for the total prevention impact, not all curriculums must be utilized. Each can be used independently of the others depending upon the needs of the local community. However, whatever curriculum(s) is/are provided, it/they must be presented in entirety with the exception of K-4.

Elementary Curriculum: The D.A.R.E. elementary program is designed for delivery in the exit year of elementary school, usually 5th or 6th grade. It consists of 9 classroom lessons followed by a culmination (session 10). One D.A.R.E. culmination is usually conducted for each school, and includes all D.A.R.E. students who received the program from each D.A.R.E. class (assembly).

Middle School Curriculum: This curriculum known as “keepin’ it REAL” consists of 10 classroom lessons, and is designed for 7th grade; however, it may be presented in any middle-school grade.

Senior High Curriculum: These 9 classroom lessons are designed for 10th grade, but may be delivered in any high-school grade level.

K-4th grade: Called “visitation lessons,” this program is designed to prepare younger students for the formal D.A.R.E. curriculum in later grades, and give them information pertaining to their safety and wellbeing. Grades K-2 use colorful study prints (large discussion picture cards) to facilitate discussion on a variety of youth related safety topics. Grades 3 & 4 have several written lessons for classroom presentation, which can be used in part or in entirety, over several sessions.

Enhancement Lessons: Additional lessons for Elementary and Middle School have been developed to address specific concerns of communities. They can also be provided as a standalone program by the D.A.R.E. Officers. These lessons include Bullying, Gangs, Prescription & Over-the-counter Drug Abuse, Internet Safety, Cyber-bullying, Sexual Predators, Role Modeling, and Methamphetamine. Use of enhancement lessons is voluntary.

For further information or clarification, please contact your local D.A.R.E. Officer, or the Maryland D.A.R.E. Coordinator’s Office at 410.875.3426.

National Middle School Association Letter Supporting new Curriculum

D.A.R.E. Officer Training (DOT)

The D.A.R.E. Officer Training Program is an intensive two week (80+ hrs.) residential training course that equips the entry level police officer with the skills and knowledge to present the D.A.R.E. curriculum to 5/6th grade children. The training focuses on developing communication skills, teaching methodology, classroom management, narcotics overview, adolescent development and chemical use and dependency, lesson preparation and effective demonstration of the curriculum.

Additionally, this lengthy and difficult training event requires that the officer is truly committed to helping children live safe and healthy lives. That commitment is the catalyst that helps carry most officers through. Ask any one of them about the difficulty and they consistently reply, "it was one of the most difficult trainings of my police career." National D.A.R.E. Training Schedule Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute.

National D.A.R.E. Training Schedule
D.A.R.E. Officer Training Application