DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a preventive program to equip youth with skills to resist peer pressure to experiment with drugs.

One of the unique features of Project DARE is police officers teach the program.

The DARE lessons focus on four major areas:

·    Providing accurate information about alcohol and other drugs

·    Teaching students decision-making skills

·    Showing students how to resist negative peer pressure

·    Giving students ideas for alternatives to drug use

In the schools

With administrative help from the school, Project DARE will provide the following:

·    A specially trained uniformed police officer once a week for a school semester to teach the 17 DARE lessons. The officer will instruct the curriculum to fifth grade. DARE is suggested for the elementary exit grade prior to a student entering middle school. These lessons last between 45 minutes and an hour.

·    Visitation lessons (approximately 20 minutes) to classes from K-4 through the exit grade

·    DARE lessons for middle and high schools

·    Opportunities for the officer to interact with the students during lunch, playground activities and other appropriate times during the school day. The officer will be expected to remain on campus all day except in some situations where there are only one or two sections of the exit grade. The officer will be expected to remain on campus half of the school day or less in these situations: 1) a culmination assembly for exit grade students. 2) a faculty awareness session (30 minutes). 3) A parent education evening (two hours) 4) community civic club awareness meeting.

The school should assist in the program by doing the following:

·    Regard the officer as an educator. No law enforcement activities should be expected of the officer except in emergencies.

·    Provide the officer with a mailbox and school bulletins. If possible, a workroom or office space would be of great value to the officer and the program.

·    Schedule the faculty meeting early in the semester

·    Schedule and publicize the parent education meeting

DARE history

In 1983, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles United School District developed the DARE program, which targeted elementary school students. This training would precede the negative peer pressure that students face in middle and high schools.

Ten officers, who were selected for the program, participated in an 80-hour training course. They were taught officer-school relationships, self-esteem development, peer pressure resistance techniques, narcotics recognition, communication skills, child development and classroom evaluations.

Since its beginning, DARE has served as a model program for agencies throughout the country, including Columbia and throughout South Carolina.

In February 1989, DARE instructors completed 80 hours of intense training at the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.  Columbia Police Department officers participated, and the agency became one of the first in the Midlands to adopt the program.

DARE was introduced on a pilot basis at Hyatt Park Elementary School in Columbia in March 1989. The program expanded to include DARE Middle School and Senior High School programs. DARE Middle began in 1993 and DARE Senior High was implemented in September 1996.

Project DARE has undergone numerous evaluations by skilled researchers with similar results reported in most jurisdictions. The DARE students overwhelmingly accepted the DARE program and felt it was successful. Principals and teachers reported positive changes in students, classes and schools. Additionally, school personnel reported an increase in positive attitudes toward law enforcement personnel, a reduction in school vandalism, truancy and disciplinary actions, an increase in self-confidence, and a more positive attitude toward school.

DARE's future in Columbia appears to be bright based on the reaction of educators and students. The benefits of educating children in drug abuse resistance techniques far outweigh the costs involved in the program. The payoff will come when today's children assume their roles as tomorrow's productive citizens and national leaders in a drug free society!

Eight ways to say no to drugs

1. Say, "No, thanks"
2. Give an excuse or reason
3. Broken record
4. Walk away
5. Change the subject
6. Avoid the situation
7. Cold shoulder
8. Strength in numbers

Here are nine easy steps you can take to prevent the use of alcohol and drugs by children:

·    Talk with your child about alcohol and other drugs.

·    Learn to really listen to your child. Help your child develop strong values.

·    Be a good role model or example in your own use of alcohol

·    Help your pre-teen deal with peer pressure.

·    Set firm rules about drinking and other drug use.

·    Encourage healthy, creative activities.

·    Talk with other parents.

·    Know what to do if you suspect a problem.

For more information about Project DARE, contact the Community Services Unit of the Columbia Police Department at 545-3507.