NCJ Number
114802
Date Published
1988
Length
17 pages
Annotation
First implemented in Los Angeles in 1983, Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a prevention program designed to equip elementary and middle school students with skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
Abstract
The program involves a cooperative effort between schools and police, in which well-trained, uniformed police officers teach a formal curriculum to students in the classroom on a regular basis. Several DARE lessons focus on building students' self-esteem and emphasizing that children who feel good about themselves will be more capable of asserting themselves in the face of negative peer pressure. Others consider the consequences of using substances, identify alternative means for coping with stress, and consider other ways to gain peer acceptance and have fun. Focus also is on decisionmaking skills and effective strategies for responding to peers who advocate substance use. Key program elements include joint planning, written agreements, officer selection and training, the core curriculum, classroom instruction, informal officer/student interaction, teacher orientation, a parent education evening, and community presentations. An evaluation of the Los Angeles program showed it was well received by teachers, principals, and students and had positive effects on the attitudes, knowledge, and self-reported behavior of participating students. The program has now been implemented by 398 police agencies in 33 States. Information resources and descriptions of the 17 DARE lessons are appended. 11 notes.