DARE

 =**D**rug.**A**buse.**R**esistance.**E**ducation =

DARE is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 by police chief Darryl Gates and Glenn Levant in Los Angeles, California. This program gives children the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. DARE has been so successful that it is now being implemented in 75% of our nations school districts! It is also seen in over 43 countries all over the world. DARE is a police officer-led series of lessons that teaches children (grades K-12) how to say no to drugs and resist peer pressure.

Students who enter into the DARE program are asked to sign a pledge not to use drugs or participate in gang-related activity. The officers who are involved in this program must go through extensive training. The police officers must undergo 80 hours of training in areas such as child development, class management, and communication skills!



DARE can be very effective and helpful to you children and their awareness of drugs, violence, and gangs. Because police officers visit classrooms and offer information directly to the students, police officers and authority becomes less threatening. The classroom visits "humanize" police officers and allow for more open communication between law enforcement and the youth.

DARE provides a detailed and easy-to-navigate website for parents, children, officers, and anyone who is in need of information or who is just interested in the program. The website provides information on how to start a program in your community. It also provides information on common drugs and links to outside sources. The website provides helpful tips and information for parents on how to communicate with their children about drugs and violence. There is a specific part of DARE's website geared toward kids. By navigating this website, you are able to obtain any information about the program, it's history, contact information, local DARE programs, and much, much more.



__Want more information?__ [|DARE Hompage] [|Start a DARE program near you] [|New Jersey contacts] __Contact Information__ D.A.R.E. America 9800 La Cienega Blvd. Suite 401 Inglewood, CA 90301

Phone: 800.223.DARE Fax: 310.215.0180