"TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"
What is D.A.R.E.?
D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance and
Education. It is a drug abuse prevention education program designed
to equip elementary and junior high school
children with knowledge about drug abuse, the consequences of abuse,
and skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with drugs,
alcohol and tobacco. D.A.R.E. was originally developed in
1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department in
conjunction with the Los Angeles United School district. Based on
the premise that prevention is the only long-term answer to drug
abuse, the program grew to include all 50 states and many countries
abroad. In the Cy Fair ISD, D.A.R.E. is a strong presence, creating
a positive atmosphere for students to interact with uniformed law
enforcement officers.
This unique program uses uniformed law enforcement
officers to teach a formal curriculum to students in a classroom
setting. The Jersey Village PD began teaching the program in 1989 in
schools that service the citizens of Jersey Village. The elementary
school D.A.R.E. program targets 5th or 6th graders and prepares them
to enter junior high school, where pressures to use drugs and
alcohol will most likely occur. The middle school program targets
7th grade students, reinforcing their knowledge and skills,
preparing them to enter high school.
 D.A.R.E.
To Say No!
D.A.R.E. lesson plans focus
on four major areas:
-
Providing accurate information about drugs, alcohol
and tobacco.
-
Teaching students good decision-making skills.
-
Showing students how to recognize and resist peer
pressure.
-
Giving students ideas for positive alternatives to
drug use.
D.A.R.E
officers work with children to raise their self-esteem, teach them
how to make decisions on their own, and help them identify positive
alternatives to drugs. Through role-playing, the D.A.R.E.,
curriculum emphasizes the negative consequences of drug use, and
reinforces the skills to resist peer pressure and intimidation.
  Key
Program Elements
D.A.R.E. is
a cooperative effort by the police, schools, parents, and the
community - all four working together to help our children make the
right choices concerning drug use.
One of
the unique features of Project D.A.R.E. is the use of uniformed
police officers as instructors. D.A.R.E. officers are assigned to a
classroom "beat". The officers selected for the program are talented
in human relations and communication skills. The officers are
specially trained to present a 17 lesson instructional unit, which
culminates in a special graduation ceremony.
The need
for an effective education program to inoculate students against the
threat of drugs is critical to the well being of our children and
their future.
Please
join with us and D.A.R.E. to keep our kids off drugs!
 What
D.A.R.E. is NOT
Scare
tactics - D.A.R.E. relies on accurate information and a
straight-forward approach.
A "Witch
Hunt" - D.A.R.E. Officers NEVER encourage students to
"turn in" family or friends who may be breaking the law. D.A.R.E.
students are taught to say "someone I know . . . " when sharing
stories; never using real names.
"Hands on
drugs" - How drugs are used (methods) are not taught. Drugs are
never taken into a classroom as part of D.A.R.E.
 Tips
For Parents
-
Establish family rules that make it clear that drug
use will not be tolerated.
-
Educate yourself about drugs, so you can talk
informatively with your children and answer their questions.
-
Spend time with your children listening to their
concerns and showing how much you love and care for them.
-
Recognize that YOU are their most
important role model.
-
Because 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, such as curfew and the
amount of spending money they receive.
-
If a problem exists, get help! Don't say
"Not my child!"
-
Teach them about the many positive alternatives to
drug use.
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