How it Began

    D.A.R.E. was started in 1983 to help in the fight against drugs in Los Angeles.  The program was called D.A.R.E. standing for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  The program was such a success that it began to spread across the country.  D.A.R.E. is now taught in all 50 states and overseas.

See Listings: Participating Departments and Participating Schools

What D.A.R.E. Covers   

    The D.A.R.E. curriculum is unique in that it uses law enforcement officers to teach in the classroom.  Officers are specially selected and receive more than 80 hours of intensive training before they spend a day in a classroom.  D.A.R.E. is the only prevention program designed to be taught at all levels, from kindergarten to high school.  Today, the D.A.R.E. program is taught in 75% of all US school districts and reaches 37 million students.  National studies have shown that the more often a young person is exposed to D.A.R.E., the less likely he or she will become involved in drugs or other destructive behavior. 

    D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort by state and local law enforcement, communities, schools, and parents with the goal of preventing substance abuse and violent behavior before it starts.  The New D.A.R.E. curriculum incorporates the latest in prevention science and research-based strategies for improving youth's decision-making skills.  A national multi-year study of the new curriculum by the University of Akron drawing on urban, suburban and rural school environments showed strong results for the program.  The study's findings reveal that students using the new curriculum show a marked improvement in their decision-making skills and their belief that drug use is socially inappropriate.  The D.A.R.E. program also shows high curriculum fidelity due to the delivery system that is used. 

D.A.R.E. America licensed a new curriculum as part of their middle school program nationwide in 2009.  Partnering with Pennsylvania State University, D.A.R.E. Officers are now delivering the 'keepin' it REAL". Detailed information about 'keepin' it REAL" can be found on the SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) web site http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov. This new curriculum gives students skills to employ in refusing offers to use drugs and engage in other high-risk behaviors - Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave.

Alaska D.A.R.E. Info

    D.A.R.E. Alaska, Inc. was formed approximately 9 years ago to support the drug abuse prevention education in Alaska through the D.A.R.E. program and to support the state D.A.R.E. coordinator's office.  The state D.A.R.E. coordinator's office exists to provide D.A.R.E. training and support for law enforcement officers.  With all the mandated training required of police officers, few departments have funds left over for programs such as D.A.R.E.  Therefore, D.A.R.E. Alaska, Inc. and the state coordinator's office attempt to raise funds through grants, corporate contributions, and fund raising to pay for the D.A.R.E. training, curriculum and other supportive efforts.  We are currently able to make the training available at no cost to all departments regardless of their size.  

    Today in Alaska there are 82 active D.A.R.E. officers teaching.  Each year the program continues to achieve growth.  In the 2008-2009 school year we were able to provide the D.A.R.E. program to 3% of Alaska's youth, have seen a 22% increase in D.A.R.E. officers, an 26% increase in police agency participation, and 36% of new communities have added the D.A.R.E. program.  Yearly surveys show that teachers and school administrators highly praise the program and their D.A.R.E. officer.  Finally, the D.A.R.E. program continues to work successfully in both urban and rural settings throughout the State of Alaska.

Mission is: Teaching Alaskan Kids to resist drugs and violence

Vision is: Healthy Kids in Healthy Communities