D.A.R.E. Introduces K-12 Curricula Against Opioid Crisis

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 drug overdose crisis. DA.R.E. America is offering the comprehensive opioid abuse prevention curricula to schools and communities for FREE through the D.A.R.E. program.  The curricula features rigorous lessons specifically tailored for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as parents and communities.

The new curricula were created in response to a crisis that, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), results in seven deaths every hour from opioid-related drug overdoses, amounting to 175 people per day and cumulatively more than 64,000 in 2016 alone. According to an HHS study, wider implementation of substance abuse prevention programs, in addition to saving lives, would save state and local governments $1.3 billion over two years and an additional $33.5 billion in substance-abuse-related medical care nationwide.

In response to the current crisis, one that is affecting virtually all cities and towns, D.A.R.E. has launched the new set of curricula to deal specifically with opioid and prescription drug abuse.  The comprehensive lessons meet National Health Education Standards.  Each law enforcement agency, school district, and community now has the opportunity to provide their students with the knowledge and skills to make safe and healthy decisions and avoid the tragedy of opioid, prescription, and over-the-counter drug abuse.

“What’s been missing in the nation’s response to the opioid epidemic is comprehensive prevention education which, to be effective, must begin by reaching children in elementary school and continue into middle and high school, to equip them to avoid drug use in the first place,” explained Frank Pegueros, D.A.R.E. America President & CEO. “D.A.R.E.’s new curricula will give millions of school children across the country both the knowledge and the skills they need to avoid drug use. They will learn what to do at school and at home. What to do when their friends or family are affected. How to spread awareness and keep their communities informed.”

Beginning in 2008, D.A.R.E. created and implemented new prevention education programs. The curricula are designed to be more effective, incorporating state-of-the-art and science education techniques, enhanced understanding of student learning styles, and advancements in academic rigor.  D.A.R.E.’s comprehensive K-12 Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention lessons are a supplement to its keepin’ it REAL elementary and middle school curricula, and the D.A.R.E. myPlaybook high school curriculum.

“The research around the importance of prevention in confronting drug abuse is clear and cannot be understated,” said Richard Clayton, PhD., prevention researcher and Chairman of D.A.R.E.’s Scientific Advisory Board. “Comprehensive programs like D.A.R.E.’s Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention curricula are critical tools for turning the tide of the drug abuse crisis in America. D.A.R.E.’s new approach to prevention programming targets not only students, but also works to make change at the community level as well. D.A.R.E.’s curricula are an important step to navigating our way out of America’s opioid tailspin.”

Today, D.A.R.E. is the most comprehensive K-12 education program in the world taught in thousands of schools throughout the country and in 50+ other nations. Its curricula are designed and tested to make sure students learn and practice the decision-making skills they need to be safe and healthy despite the significant presence of drugs in communities. The D.A.R.E. curricula are science and evidence-based.  keepin’ it REAL was developed by the Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University with support provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The D.A.R.E. high school curriculum, myPlaybook, was developed by Prevention Strategies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. For a complete description of D.A.R.E.’s K-12 Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention lessons and all of its curricula, go to www.dare.org.

From the January/February 2019 edition of Sheriff & Deputy, NSA’s bimonthly magazine

4,500 Students Graduate from D.A.R.E. Mexico in Tijuana

4,500 Students Graduate from D.A.R.E. Mexico in Tijuana

Tijuana, Baja California, February 23, 2023 – More than 4,500 preschool, Elementary, and Middle school students from 43 schools in Tijuana, Mexico, graduated from the D.A.R.E. program. Students completed their preventive education program against drug use courses…

D.A.R.E. Graduation at Paulding Elementary School

D.A.R.E. Graduation at Paulding Elementary School

D.A.R.E. program in Paulding County is going strong with a new Deputy at the helm, Deputy Rich Phelan. In January he completed the 12 week coursework with the Antwerp Elementary 5th graders. This past week, he graduated the 5th grade class of Paulding Elementary….

Lafayette County’s D.A.R.E. Program Graduates 225 Students

Lafayette County’s D.A.R.E. Program Graduates 225 Students

Lafayette’s D.A.R.E. program graduated 225 students recently. The D.A.R.E. program taught by Lafayette County deputies is a 10-week course that focuses on how students can make responsible decisions when it comes to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, bullying and peer pressure.

Support D.A.R.E. and enter for a chance to win!

Support D.A.R.E. and enter for a chance to win!

D.A.R.E. curricula provide students the knowledge and skills to make good decisions for safe and healthy living. D.A.R.E.'s keepin' it REAL elementary and middle-school curricula are based on Socio-Emotional Learning Theory which identifies basic skills and processes...

A Different Kind of D.A.R.E.

A Different Kind of D.A.R.E.

The principle is still the same: Friendly officers from the Moorhead Police Department come to fifth grade classrooms every day to prepare kids to make good decisions. But if you attended elementary school in the 1980s and 1990s, when the nationwide program was in its...

D.A.R.E. Returns to Chicago Schools

D.A.R.E. Returns to Chicago Schools

Welcome back, Chicago!
After 13 years, D.A.R.E. returns to Chicago schools with the April 22nd graduation of 40 Chicago Police Officers from a two-week D.A.R.E. Officer Training, and Chicago Police Department Announces New D.A.R.E. Program!
Partnership with schools will teach good decision-making while building trust between community & law enforcement…

School Drug Prevention Program Celebrates 1st Graduation In 14 Years

School Drug Prevention Program Celebrates 1st Graduation In 14 Years

The Southampton Police Department held a D.A.R.E. graduation at Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School Thursday — the first time Southampton Town has graduated a class in 14 years, according to Lt. Susan Ralph. Sixth graders who participated in the Drug Abuse Resistance…

Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America.
All Rights Reserved.