D.A.R.E.

Questions and Answers
 
 

What is DARE?

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program is a unique drug education program that was developed by the Los Angeles Police Dept. and the Los Angeles School system in 1983. DARE was structured to give children the best possible preparation to resist drugs and violence as they enter adolescence. The program has proven so successful that it is now taught in every state and several foreign countries. The U.S. Department of Defense has authorized the DARE program to be taught on military bases worldwide for dependents of service personnel.
 
 

The DARE program is taught to children in the last year of elementary school, either the 5th or 6th grade depending on the school system. In Collier County, all public, private, and parochial school 5th grade children are offered the program. The DARE program is presented by specially trained uniformed deputies of the Collier County Sheriff's Office's Youth Relations Bureau to all participating schools in the county except those within the city limits of Naples. Those schools are served by the Naples Police and Emergency Services Department. The classroom teacher is also present during the classes and participates in the instructional activities.
 
 

The DARE program is taught during regular school hours. The program lasts for seventeen weeks with classes meeting once per week. Each class lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
 
 

The State of Florida, as do most states, requires school systems to provide drug education to all students. The DARE program was developed to fulfill these requirements with the most effective and efficient education possible. The program utilizes lecture, question - answer, and role playing activities to teach the lessons. Lessons focus on the decision making process we all must learn and how each individual must consider the consequences of any choices made. Students also learn how to handle the very real presence of peer pressure. Students learn how to improve their self esteem so they are better able to make positive choices for themselves. This interactive program is very effective in giving children the tools they will need to resist the pressures and temptations to experiment with drugs.
 
 

There are several ways you can help with the DARE program.
 

• If you are the parent of a child in the program, you can:

• Talk with your child about each lesson. Reinforce the concepts that are being learned in class.
• Learn everything you can about the types of drugs that are available in your area, what they look like, and their effects.
• Examine your own use of tobacco and alcohol or other drugs. Consider the example you are setting for your child.

 

• If  you are not a DARE parent, but wish to help, you can:

• Learn about drugs and drug paraphernalia in the area and how to recognize them
• Report all suspicious activity to the sheriff's office immediately.
• Participate in Neighborhood Watch groups to help keep drugs out of your neighborhood. Help stop the sale of tobacco and alcohol products to minors. If you see them being sold illegally, report it to the sheriff's office.