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Drug Abuse Resistance Education, better known as DARE or D.A.R.E., is an educational program aimed primarily at fifth-grade students which seeks to discourage the use of illegal drugs. Students who enter the program sign a pledge to never use such drugs and attend a series of lectures over a period of seventeen weeks provided by local law enforcement warning of the dangers of drug abuse.
The course is complemented by a variety of diversions aimed at children, such as D.A.R.E. songs which the students sing together, as well as T-shirts, plastic cards, pins, and other accessories. Playing off the acronym, many of these collectibles bear the sentence "D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs".
History
D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 by Los Angeles Police chief Daryl Gates. It has since become pervasively used throughout the United States and in several other countries. It has received numerous accolades and awards for its efforts at "keeping kids off drugs".
Several spin-off or inspired programs, such as D.A.T.E. and DECIDE, have also been introduced for use in elementary school (and, to a lesser extent, junior high) classrooms.
Criticism D.A.R.E. has fallen under heavy criticism from various sources. The most common charge is that it is ineffective, that there is no proof that students who go through the D.A.R.E. program are any less likely to use drugs. A 2003 study concluded that kids who go through this and other similar anti-drug programs in school are no less likely to end up becoming drug users in high school. Indeed, some have charged that the program actually increases the likelihood of drug use. Many teachers and parents disagree with the approach used in the program, which includes an emphasis on self-esteem issues and is believed to inadequately cover the risks of legal drugs. D.A.R.E. is also cited as being very expensive to schools. Furthermore, the policy of allowing anonymous reporting of drug use by other students or even parents and teachers has created much resentment.
Parents visiting the classrooms when D.A.R.E. is in session have also been alarmed when watching the role-playing exercises offered by the program. They complain that during these skits, all the students wanted to play the character who was high (that role being the most fun and providing the most chance to be creatively zany). This calls into question whether D.A.R.E. really convinces its participants that drugs are harmful and unpleasant.
Some local governments and school boards have ordered the program discontinued in their school districts, citing lack of effectiveness and high cost. Some have also ordered studies done which resulted in the program being cut.
A few reporters who have written negative stories on D.A.R.E. claim they were the victims of harassment and intimidation as a result.
Despite these concerns, however, the D.A.R.E. program remains widely popular.
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