The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is a widely recognized substance abuse prevention program aimed at educating young people about the dangers of drug use and violence. Founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, California, by then-Police Chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Unified School District, D.A.R.E. has since grown into an international initiative with programs implemented in thousands of schools across the United States and in many other countries.
The program is delivered by Deputies who undergo specialized training to become D.A.R.E. instructors. These Deputies visit schools and deliver structured lessons to students, typically in elementary and middle schools. D.A.R.E. curriculum covers a variety of topics, including drug awareness, decision-making skills, peer pressure resistance, communication strategies, and self-esteem building.
