COMMUNITY RELATIONS

D.A.R.E (DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION)

D.A.R.E. is a collaborative program in which law enforcement agencies and schools join together to educate students about the personal and social consequences of substance abuse and violence. The program's primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills to live drug-and-violence-free lives. This is accomplished by equipping children with the tools that will enable them to avoid negative influences and instead, allow them to focus on their strengths and potential.

The D.A.R.E. Program is a police officer led series of classroom sessions which establishes positive relationships between students, law enforcement, teachers and parents. Our department began teaching the program in 1997 in our township schools with great success. Our current D.A.R.E. Officers are: Sgt. Charles Zadroga, Officer Patrick Krouse, Detective Andrew Rathfon, and Officer Brandy Faherty.

The program is comprised of ten weekly lessons:

Lesson 1: “Purpose and Overview of the D.A.R.E. Program”

This lesson describes the components of the D.A.R.E. program and explores the use of the D.A.R.E. Decision-Making Model to solve problems.
    Define
    Access
    Respond
    Evaluate

Lesson 2: “Tobacco and You”

This lesson helps students understand the reality of low tobacco use among teens. It provides basic knowledge of tobacco and its harmful effects.

Lesson 3: “Smoke Screen”

This lesson helps students understand the role of advertising in promoting tobacco use. It provides basic knowledge on the harmful effects of marijuana. It also compares/contrasts the effects that both marijuana and tobacco have on the body.

Lesson 4: “Alcohol and You”

This lesson provides knowledge of alcohol and its harmful effects. It also helps students understand the actual low use of alcohol among 8th graders. By having students understand that only a small percentage of kids actually use alcohol, the sense of peer pressure is minimized.

Lesson 5: “The Real Truth”

This lesson assists students in identifying the harmful effects of inhalant use and helps them select alternative activities to avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other dangerous drugs. It also helps students evaluate alcohol advertisements and the resulting impact they have among today's youth.

Lesson 6: “Friendship Foundations”

This lesson demonstrates communication skills which allow students to build and maintain healthy relationships.

Lesson 7: “Putting it Together”

This lesson demonstrates skills that can be used to avoid and resist pressures to use drugs and alcohol.

Lesson 8: “Personal Action”

This lesson helps students identify the internal pressures that influence decisions regarding drug/alcohol use and how to apply the decision-making process if placed in these situations. Students also begin their preparation to write their D.A.R.E. Essay.

Lesson 9: “Practice! Practice! Practice!”

This lesson has the students practice refusal skills for alcohol, tobacco, and other dangerous drugs. The D.A.R.E. Decision-Making Model is also reviewed and discussed.

Lesson 10: “Graduation”

The graduation ceremony culminates the end of the D.A.R.E. Program and the students' families are invited to the event. A guest speaker addresses the group; essay winners are awarded their prizes and the students are presented with their diplomas.