
INGLEWOOD, CA: The United States Surgeon General’s just-issued landmark report on alcohol, drugs and health entitled Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health, concludes that alcohol and drug misuse, disorders, and addiction, are among America’s most pressing public health concerns. As noted in the report, nearly 21 million Americans – more than the number of people who have all cancers combined – suffer from substance use disorders.
The exhaustive report’s chapter dedicated to prevention programs concludes that evidence-based prevention interventions, carried out before the need for treatment, are critical because they can delay early use and stop the progression from use to addiction resulting in costly individual, social, and public health consequences. As the study states, “The good news is that there is strong scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of prevention programs and policies.”
The report concludes that interventions for adolescents aged 10 to 18 have been shown to affect either the initiation or escalation of substance use. D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL curriculum is among a 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. America formed an alliance in 2008 with The Pennsylvania State University for adoption of the keepin’ it REAL curriculum as the D.A.R.E. middle school program. The program was developed by PSU with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, utilizing rigorous longitudinal scientific evaluations to create this evidence-based program. D.A.R.E. adopted the keep’in it REAL middle-school curriculum that same year and its elementary school curriculum in 2013. D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL Elementary and Middle School Curricula adhere to relevant National Institute of Health’s Lessons from Prevention Research principles.
In 2014, Scientific American magazine commended D.A.R.E.’s Keepin’ it REALcurricula in its article, The New D.A.R.E. Program—This One Works. The “keepin’ it REAL” substance-abuse curriculum focuses on elementary and middle-school students’ decisions, not drugs (www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-new-d-a-r-e-program-this-one-works/).
Dr. Michael Hecht and Dr. Michelle Miller-Day, among the original developers of the keepin’ it REAL drug prevention programs adapted for D.A.R.E., state, “The early use of drugs increases a person’s chances of developing addiction and other physical and psychological problems. Consequently, preventing drug use is essential to reducing these risks. We are proud to partner with D.A.R.E. in their goal of providing evidence-based prevention programs to youth around the globe.”
For the full report and executive summary, visit http://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/.
D.A.R.E./keepin’ it REAL elementary curriculum:
Substance use outcomes
In 2021, the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and Prevention Strategies completed its three year, multi-longitudinal evaluation of D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL elementary school prevention education curriculum. The results of that study were submitted for peer...
Bid on Amazing Experiences & Travel for a Cause!
By entering D.A.R.E.’s first ever auction, you will support D.A.R.E.’s mission of “Teaching students good-decision making skills to lead a safe and healthy life” while having an amazing vacation! Just imagine yourself at one of these exotic locations…
The Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers Association Participate in the Ronald McDonald House Annual Red Shoe Shuffle 5K
Four Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers along with one Police Explorer brought Daren to interact with 2,700 participants, and 70 current and former Ronald McDonald House children. The Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers Association, along with the Maryland Community Policing Institute...
Team up with Little Caesars and D.A.R.E. to Keep Kids Safe
We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Little Caesars Pizza and D.A.R.E. to help keep kids safe and provide students responsible decision-making skills across the USA. For every pizza, bread, and cookie dough kit sold…
President and CEO of D.A.R.E. speaks to Dr. Ted Bender about relentless efforts to help end drug issues on an international level!
Watch the podcast…
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. 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….
D.A.R.E. Rings the Nasdaq Stock Market Closing Bell
D.A.R.E., the largest and most comprehensive K-12 drug prevention educational program in the world, visits the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. In honor of the occasion, Robert Strang, Vice-Chairperson of D.A.R.E., rings the closing bell.
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.