Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)

DARE 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.

This unique program uses uniformed law enforcement officers to teach a formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting. DARE 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.

DARE To Say No!

Lesson Plans

DARE 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

Through role-playing, the DARE, curriculum emphasizes the negative consequences of drug use, and reinforces the skills to resist peer pressure and intimidation.

Key Program Elements

DARE 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 DARE is the use of uniformed police officers as instructors. DARE officers are assigned to a classroom Beal. 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. Such a program is a long-term commitment for the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office.

Proactive Steps at Home

  • Establish family rules that make it clear that drug use will not be tolerated.
  • Educate yourself about drugs, so you talk informatively with your children and answer their questions
  • Spend time with your children and listen to their concerns and showing how much you love and care about them.
  • Recognize that you are the 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.

Conclusion

The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office is committed to improving the quality of life for our citizens, and strives to enhance the spirit of cooperation and trust between the community and it’s police department.

We are proud to bring DARE to our community!