WHAT IS THE COST OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IN ALASKA?

Alaskans spend approximately 614 million dollars on alcohol and drug dependency each year here in Alaska. This cost includes law enforcement, emergency services, hospital services, correctional facilities, treatment services, and other associated costs.

The greatest contributing factor to violent crimes which includes, domestic violence and sexual assault is alcohol and drug abuse.

WHEN DID D.A.R.E. BEGIN?

D.A.R.E. began in Los Angeles in 1983 and was a response to the growing problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse. Today the program is taught in approximately 80% of all US school districts and reaches about 37 million children.

IS D.A.R.E. IN ALASKA?

D.A.R.E. was first introduced in Alaskan schools in 1988.  It is growing by 10% each year and is in 30% of Alaskan School Districts.  Because D.A.R.E. is a community based program, it works equally well in rural and urban settings.  This makes it an ideal prevention program for the unique challenges that Alaska faces.

WHY USE POLICE OFFICERS AS INSTRUCTORS?

The D.A.R.E. officer is part of a pro-active community effort to fight drug abuse and violence and builds positive relationships with thousands of students each year. Officers are selected based on attributes that make them effective in the classroom. The D.A.R.E. program re-integrates officers with the community, allowing community members to get to know the officers keeping them safe and allowing the officers to develop a relationship with those that they are protecting.

• Officers have knowledge of criminal laws and penalties
• Officers are specialists
• The police uniform captures attention and demands respect for authority
• Officers are guest speakers in the classroom, which draws the kids’ attention
• Children develop a safe and supportive relationship with an adult role model
• Children have a positive, influential experience with a law enforcement officer, rather than a punitive, reactive one
• Children witness teamwork between police and teachers, who have the common goals of safety and healthy choices for their students
• D.A.R.E. humanizes police officers and reduces fear of the police
• D.A.R.E. has community policing at its core
• D.A.R.E. is crime prevention through education
• Officers are the ideal persons to teach problem solving skills
• Officers have a minimum of 80 hours of specialized training in the D.A.R.E. curriculum
• Officers are a symbol of authority, justice, safety, and truth and they have a command presence which kids pay attention to

WHY D.A.R.E. IN OUR SCHOOLS?

• A curriculum that integrates science and research-based prevention strategies
• Meets State and National Health Education standards
• Use of highly trained police officers and Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO) to teach the curriculum
• No cost to the district or school itself – D.A.R.E. Alaska provides student workbooks
• D.A.R.E. Alaska collaborates with police departments and school districts across the State of Alaska
• Involves active learning using both reading and language skills to help schools and students make progress based on No Child Left Behind
• Curriculums developed for elementary, middle, and high school.
• Offers intervention strategies during critical years of a students’ education
• Targets communication, decision making and refusal skills
• Students are actively engaged in problem-solving, in-depth discussions, critical thinking, and role-playing with others
• Addresses anti-bullying strategies
• A community based program

WHAT IS THE COST OF D.A.R.E.?

Law Enforcement commitment

The law enforcement agency selects officers to attend a intensive 80 hour training. Officers learn the latest techniques in active teaching and classroom management, how to draft and present the curriculum and they must pass a series of tests to be certified to teach at the kindergarten through middle school grades. Once they receive certification, they have opportunities to receive further certification in high school and parent training curriculums.

Law Enforcement costs

The cost to the department is the cost of the officer’s salary, 1 hour a week for 10 weeks.

The State Coordinators Office with support of D.A.R.E. Alaska, Inc. pay for the training materials, lodging and per diem while the officer is in training.

Additional certifications are also paid for by the State Coordinators Office.

Law Enforcement benefits

Once trained the officer is certified as a D.A.R.E. Officer, School Resource Officer (SRO) and receive their Methods of Instruction certification (MOI).

The department is engaged in community policing as the D.A.R.E. Officer develops relationships with the students, their families and the community.

D.A.R.E. Officers become valuable members of the department, whether they are School Resource Officers or they have other types of duties, these officers are able to gather valuable information due to the community relationships they have built through being involved in the D.A.R.E. program.

School commitment

The school provides the classroom time, 1 hour a week for 10 weeks. The teacher is involved with the class in a supportive role during the presentations.

School costs

The cost to the school is the classroom time, 1 hour a week for 10 weeks.

Workbooks are purchased by D.A.R.E. Alaska, Inc.

School benefits

The D.A.R.E. curriculum meets state and national Health Education Standards

Students build communication, decision making and refusal skills. These new skills are used by the students during all aspects of their interactions during the day. Previous administrators and teachers comment on the difference that they observe in the behaviors of the students that receive the D.A.R.E. program.

D.A.R.E. teaches anti-bullying strategies.

Community and Parents

Assist the officers in raising money for the graduation which is approximately $6 to $10 per student depending upon the community.

Attend the D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies. Many communities and schools make these ceremonies a big deal and often invite dignitaries to the ceremony. During the 2005/2006 school year Governor Murkowski wrote letters to the graduating D.A.R.E. students congratulating them on their choices and a job well done. You can see other highlights about D.A.R.E. graduations by going to D.A.R.E. News.

WHY NOT ANOTHER PROGRAM?

Prevention is a long-term investment in our youth and goes a long way in reducing the exorbitant cost of alcohol and drug abuse that we are paying, not only financially but in the violence that exists in our communities.

The D.A.R.E. program is more than just drug and violence education, it is a program that engages the entire community in the prevention of drugs and violence.

HOW CAN WE START A D.A.R.E. PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITY?

D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort between the law-enforcement agency and a school to prevent drug abuse and violence before it starts.

• Check to see if your law enforcement agency is teaching D.A.R.E., if so contact them.
• Check to see if your school has a D.A.R.E. program, if so contact them.
• If your school or Law Enforcement agency is not listed, contact them directly to ask for the D.A.R.E. program.

Need more help, contact the Alaska D.A.R.E. program manager at the link below.