Contacting D.A.R.E. for comment proves too much work for today’s reporters; instead, they Google and quote a 21-year-old study!
On July 11, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke at the 30th Annual D.A.R.E. International Training Conference praising the nearly 35-year-old anti-drug curricula taught in thousands of schools in every state in America and 52 other countries.
The New York Daily News, the Washington Examiner, and the Huffington Post, among other news organizations, criticized the Attorney General’s statement that America needs the D.A.R.E. program today more than ever. Rather than meeting professional journalism standards by contacting D.A.R.E. for comment regarding the current curricula, these reporters dove to the lowest depths of journalistic professionalism by spending a few minutes on Google and citing a 1996 study on an old curriculum…a curriculum that was replaced nearly a decade ago in middle schools and more than four years ago in elementary schools. A call to D.A.R.E. would have resulted in a direct referral to a principal researcher involved in the evaluations cited, a referral that would have put research of D.A.R.E. in the 80’s and 90’s in proper context with the D.A.R.E. curricula of 2017. Simply stated, the 1996 study and other outdated studies that reporters have repeatedly used are irrelevant. Sadly, flawed, faulty, and wrong reporting limits the public’s awareness of today’s D.A.R.E. program.
Had the authors exercised “best practices” journalism and CALLED D.A.R.E. America, they would have learned that nearly 10 years ago, D.A.R.E. America formed an alliance with The Pennsylvania State University and adopted the evidenced-based keepin’ it REAL (kiR) curriculum for its middle school program. The kiR program was developed by PSU and Arizona State University with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse utilizing rigorous longitudinal scientific evaluations to create this evidence-based program. Then, in 2013, D.A.R.E. adopted the keepin’ it REAL elementary school curriculum.
Contacting D.A.R.E. – or properly researching – would also have identified the United States Surgeon General’s recent landmark report entitled, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. That exhaustive report’s chapter dedicated to prevention states, “The good news is that there is strong scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of prevention programs and policies.” The report lists the keepin’ it REAL curriculum among a select number of select programs the Surgeon General identifies as building social, emotional, cognitive, and substance refusal skills that provide children accurate information on rates and amounts of peer substance use.
D.A.R.E.’s mission today is teaching students good decision-making skills for safe and healthy living. D.A.R.E. education programs are a collaborative effort of the essential components of a community – students, parents, schools, law enforcement, and community leaders. Perhaps some of today’s reporters need the D.A.R.E. lesson on responsible decision-making to help them make better choices when writing stories.
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…
National Sheriffs’ Association Supports Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program D.A.R.E.
WHEREAS, the National Sheriffs’ Association recognizes the nationwide seriousness of drug abuse, heightened abuse of opioids and prescription drugs, and violence by our nation’s youth, and the urgent need…
DISCLAIMER REGARDING TED NUGENT — NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA…
D.A.R.E. America and D.A.R.E. programs throughout the United States abhor Ted Nugent’s remarks regarding Parkland, Florida high school students and the tragedy they have experienced. While Ted Nugent has in the past claimed an association with D.A.R.E., there has...
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...
Communities Bring Back D.A.R.E. to Their Classrooms
The opioid epidemic, legalization concerns, and need for improved community-police relations make D.A.R.E. curricula a high priority.
Read about the return of D.A.R.E. to the communities below:
Surgeon General Commends Efficacy of D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL Curriculum
Strong scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of prevention programs; report states keepin’ it REAL has shown positive effects on substance use. INGLEWOOD, CA: The United States Surgeon General’s just-issued landmark report on alcohol, drugs and health...
Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America.
All Rights Reserved.