Inc.D.A.R.E. Research
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In the next few weeks, research on the success of D.A.R.E., both past and present, from around the world will be posted here, along with hyperlinks to view the web sites from which this information was found. Law Enforcement Agencies, Participating School Districts, Community supporters, the Weld County D.A.R.E. Board of Directors and myself, believe that educating youth on the dangers of illegal drugs along with tobacco and alcohol abuse is an essential element in a child's growth. By reducing the number of kids who may otherwise have experimented, become addicted or even died, D.A.R.E. Certified Police Officers and Deputies believe that knowledge is a powerful deterrent in the "war against drugs", and they're winning it one child at a time in every D.A.R.E. class taught.
There are pros and cons about every educational program taught today. Some say that what makes a successful program is the amount of controversy it generates. Some say that D.A.R.E. isn't successful because it has "reinvented" itself over the years. Those who are "in the know" about such issues say that the most successful programs of any kind, dealing with kids issues, must grow with the times. And because D.A.R.E. has done that, it's criticized. Where's the logic?
Whether you believe that D.A.R.E. is the answer or not, remember that D.A.R.E. is the largest nonprofit educational program of it's kind in existence today and nobody has ever found a better program that has educated more children at a lesser cost. Every anti-drug message on television and radio ends their message with, "Talk to your kids about drugs, they'll listen". Well, D.A.R.E. does that, and even to kids whose parents don't, or can't because of not having the tools to do so. We do! The best proof of this is to sit in a classroom where D.A.R.E. is being taught by a dedicated Police Officer or Deputy and watch the interaction between the students and the Cop. Attend a D.A.R.E. graduation and see the pride of the children who read their essays on what they learned in D.A.R.E. and how they feel about the D.A.R.E. Officer who spent 45 minutes a day for 10 weeks with them as his or her only concern. Then you'll see the success of the D.A.R.E. program, and you won't need anything else to convince you!
Dennis W. Humphreys, President
Weld County D.A.R.E., Inc.