D.A.R.E. was originally developed in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department in conjunction with the Unified School District. Based on the premise that prevention is the only long-term answer to drug abuse, the program grew to include all 50 states and many countries abroad. In the Columbia Police Department, D.A.R.E. is a strong presence, creating a positive atmosphere for students to interact with uniformed law enforcement officers.

D.A.R.E. is taught by certified police officers who go into the schools and teach a 10-week curriculum to 5th grade elementary students.

The purpose of D.A.R.E. is to:

• Provide accurate information about drugs and alcohol
• Teach students the necessary decision-making skills
• Show students how to resist negative peer pressure
• Suggest healthy alternatives to drug use
• Build confidence and self-esteem

The D.A.R.E. program is designed to avoid scare tactics. Positive and substantive, it relies on accurate information and an upbeat approach. D.A.R.E. officers visit with students in the classroom, conduct faculty workshops, and present programs to teacher/parent organizations. This approach provides a constructive and highly visible presence to the students involved in D.A.R.E. and to the community.

The implementation of the D.A.R.E. program has led to educated students facing an uncertain world armed with the knowledge that drug abuse is a destructive cycle. The undeniable success this program has already generated insures its place in our society. Until drug abuse is a thing of the past, D.A.R.E. will continue to be in the forefront of preventative measures.

The Columbia Police Department teaches D.A.R.E. at Brown, McDowell, Columbia Academy, Zion Christian Academy, Riverside, Baker, Woodard and Howell Elementaries.

For more information please contact your D.A.R.E. Unit representatives

at (931)-840-5977 or via email here .