Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

The D.A.R.E. Program, developed in 1983 as a joint venture of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District, has established itself as an essential educational initiative aimed at combating drug abuse and violence among youth. Upon his election to office in January 1997, Sheriff Donnie Rannefeld expanded the D.A.R.E. program to Nolan County's rural schools, ensuring that students in Roscoe, Highland, and Blackwell benefit from its life-changing principles.

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Today, the D.A.R.E. Program is taught by Stephen F. Smith II, a Deputy Sheriff whose specialized training and experience has given him the background needed to address the questions young students frequently have about drugs and crime. Through a carefully structured curriculum, Deputy Smith employs a range of activity-oriented techniques designed to actively engage students. These methods include class participation, cooperative-learning group discussions, and role-playing exercises, all aimed at enhancing students' comprehension of the critical themes covered in the program. This dynamic approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of the material but also encourages students to think critically about the consequences of drug use and criminal behavior.

D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives students the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities. D.A.R.E. is an approach to educating students about the social, emotional, psychological, and physiological hazards of drug abuse and teaches them what being grown-up really means. That is, not giving in to negative peer pressure, making mature decisions, and learning to cope with problems in positive ways.

 

The United States Department of Justice has identified how D.A.R.E. benefits local communities:
 

D.A.R.E. "humanizes," the police: that is, young people can begin to relate to officers as people

D.A.R.E. permits students to see officers in a helping role, not just an enforcement role

D.A.R.E. opens lines of communication between law enforcement and youth

D.A.R.E. Officers can serve as conduits to provide information beyond drug-related topics

D.A.R.E. opens dialogue between the school, police, and parents to deal with other issues