Based upon more than 20 years of research by the Drug Resistance Strategies Project about why our youth use drugs, D.A.R.E. America collaborated with Penn State University and Arizona State University to create keepin’ it REAL, a state-of-the-art, middle school substance abuse prevention program.
Grounded in cultural norms, the program teaches youth how to live drug-free lives confidently, drawing on the strengths of the students, their families, and communities.
Like the elementary school curriculum, the acronym “REAL” is the central message of the curriculum and teaches youth four ways to refuse drug offers — Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave. These strategies help youth stay away from drugs by preparing them to act decisively and responsibly in difficult situations.
Evidence Based; Proven Efficacious
The curriculum is evidence-based and has been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial and found to be efficacious. The 10-lesson middle-school curriculum is highly interactive, involves multiple media materials that youth find engaging, and, like the elementary school curriculum, is based on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) principles that fit well with current research and practice in teaching middle-school youth.
The rigorous, scientific evaluations of the D.A.R.E. keepin’ it REAL curriculum for students in grades six through nine, show students completing the course evidenced a:
- 32% to 44% reduction in marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol use;
- 29% to 34% decrease in intent to accept substances; and
- Reduction and cessation of substance use.
D.A.R.E. in 2019 – It’s Science & Evidence-Based Curricula
Read an article about D.A.R.E. by Richard Clayton, Ph.D., former Chair of Health Education and Health Promotion in the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky. For more than 20 years, he was the director of the federally funded Center for Prevention Research
National Sheriffs’ Association Article: D.A.R.E. Responds to America’s Opioid Crisis with New K-12 Prevention Lessons
Substance abuse prevention education organization D.A.R.E. America has launched new nationwide curricula for law enforcement officer-led D.A.R.E. programs targeting K-12 classrooms, parents, and communities that will challenge the national opioid and prescription…
Frank Pegueros, President of D.A.R.E. America, discusses Opioid Epidemic and his Message for Parents
The opioid crisis continues to dominate headlines in the U.S. Frank Pegueros, president of D.A.R.E. America, joined us to discuss what the program is doing to help and his message for parents…
D.A.R.E. Launches Public Service Announcement Campaign
D.A.R.E. America has launched a nationwide PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CAMPAIGN promoting our K-12 Opioid & Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Lessons.
English and Spanish video and audio PSA’s have been distributed to more than 900 media outlets.
D.A.R.E. Launches K-12 Opioid and OTC/RX Drug Abuse Prevention Curricula
America faces an opioid crisis. Every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. Experts project it will increase by 19% annually. D.A.R.E. Responds. D.A.R.E. America has created a comprehensive K-12 Opioid and OTC/Rx drug abuse prevention…
Peninsula Clarion: Conversation on drugs, alcohol continues to evolve
Times have changed, and so has the message behind D.A.R.E., the long-running program for elementary school students administered by law enforcement officers. As the Clarion reported this week, while D.A.R.E. still stands for “drug abuse resistance education,” the...
D.A.R.E.’s Position and Curricula Regarding Marijuana & Legalization
1. What is D.A.R.E.’s position regarding the legalization of marijuana? D.A.R.E. America is a non-profit organization dedicated to our mission of “Teaching students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives.” As taught in our curricula, we...
D.A.R.E. Plans to Address Opioid Epidemic in New Lesson Program
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, better known as D.A.R.E., plans to launch an opioid-use prevention lesson program at the beginning of 2018. The widely known anti-drug abuse education program that gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s will be reviewing educational...
The new D.A.R.E.: Decision-making skills instead of drug lectures
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., the school-based substance use prevention program delivered by police officers, has quietly changed into a completely different curriculum. Instead of spending 45 minutes lecturing students about drugs — which has proven...
Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America.
All Rights Reserved.