• Skip to content
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • CALL NOW
    24 HOURS
  • 303-420-TOURS
  • Colorado Cannabis Tours 420 Logo
    • Cannabis Tours
    • 420-Friendly Hotels
      • Denver Hotels
      • California Hotels
      • Las Vegas Hotels
    • Activities & Classes
    • Services
    • Packages
    • 4/20 Events
    • The 420 Blog
    • Contact Us
    • Home
    Stay High Blog

    History of the D.A.R.E. Program

    Saturday October 01, 2016
    Cannabis HistoryD.A.R.E. ProgramDrug WarLegalization

    back to latest post list

    D.A.R.E. Program

    Did It Really Keep Kids Off Drugs?

    When and Why It Was Created.

    If you went to school in the United States from the 80s on, chances are you took a course through D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, began in 1983 with the intention of providing alternative support and prevention education to children to lessen their risk of using drugs, experiencing violence and/or being involved in gang activity.

    A major perceived catalyst of the program was the untimely death in the mid eighties of prominent college basketball star, 22-year-old Len Bias. Bias, a player from the University of Maryland, was at the very top of his game and had just been the No. 2 overall pick of the NBA Draft (NUMBER 2!). Bias was set to be making his way to the Boston Celtics. At the time, Celtics scout Ed Badger told the press,

    “Len Bias is the closest thing to Michael Jordan to come out in a long time…He’s an explosive and exciting kind of player like that.”

    The stage was set for Bias’ unlimited success. But just two short days later and Bias was dead, having passed away a few hours after using cocaine at an early hours party.

    ESPN writer Rick Weinberg put it perfectly for his readers,

    “The shock of the day’s events do not subside. Not in that moment. Not for years.”

    Though Weinberg was correct, he likely didn’t realize that it was more than just the sports community that was affected by Bias’ death.

    A War on Drugs had begun. And the shock and awe of that event has still has not subsided. In fact, the war continues. Today, D.A.R.E. program has been integrated into 75% of schools in the U.S. and reaches 52 countries total.

    Program Objectives.

    The number one objective of the program is in the name – drug abuse resistance. Cocaine, and later crack, were the big news drugs in the 80’s. After Ronald Reagan’s Anti-Drug Abuse Act was signed in ‘86, D.A.R.E had the government sanctioned foothold it needed to stay relevant in the school system, indefinitely.

    The original intent of the program was not to scare children, but instead to give them the education they would need in order to make a wise decision when drugs or alcohol did cross their path. By showing children what other choices they had, and that they had the power to make those choices, D.A.R.E. program coordinators were aiming to give kids a better life, one free of drugs and violence.

     

    Methods Used.

    When the D.A.R.E. program began, information was imparted to youth by police officers. Utilizing the police force as instructors for the program is a tactic that is still used today. Sure, a student can listen to their usual teacher talk to them about drugs and violence, but when a uniformed police officer steps into their mundane classroom, badge shiny and handcuffs jingling at their side – the classroom attention perks up.

    Children often want to please police officers, in part because, in many instances, they are taught to revere and fear them. Heck, some parents even use local police as a scare tactic when disciplining their kids, much to the distress of the officers hoping to build trust in the community. So it would seem as though using police officers to teach D.A.R.E. was beneficial regarding gaining student’s attention but maybe not so much in the way of allowing children to open up, ask questions and feel comfortable admitting mistakes.

    Was it effective? Is it still in schools?

    The effectiveness of D.A.R.E. is a difficult thing to measure. Yes, in the 90’s after the program had been initiated, youth polls began to show a decrease in use of marijuana, methamphetamines, LSD and cocaine. However, one could speculate that with a brand new program in place in many classrooms, one that condemns the aforementioned substances, perhaps the children charged with taking these surveys were more guarded and therefore less likely to be honest and admit their use then they had been previous to the D.A.R.E. program.

    D.A.R.E. is still in schools today, being taught alongside the literary classics and sex education. It is a very normal, expected part of the school year for students. And while it’s effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, has not prompted any big changes in the program in the last several decades – times ARE a-changing now and an overhaul regarding the use of marijuana may well be in order.

    What do you think about the D.A.R.E. program. Do you have any memories of being taught drug abuse resistance education? Let us know in the comments below.

    • About
    • Latest Posts
    Brittany Driver

    Brittany Driver

    Brittany Driver, a native Texan, lives in Denver with her husband and toddler. She writes for Colorado Cannabis Tours, The Cannabist, The Denver Post, and was featured in documentary Rolling Papers. She is passionate about Pot and Parenting.
    Brittany Driver

    Latest posts by Brittany Driver (see all)

    • Doctor’s Orders - November 16, 2017
    • Big Pharma Takes on Pot Painkillers - July 31, 2017
    • Nicolas Trainerbees - July 13, 2017

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Check us out on Google Plus Engage our tweets on Twitter See our snaps on Instagram Follow our story on Facebook

    Categories

    • Cannabis Culture (41)
    • Cannabis Travel (18)
    • Events (14)
    • How-To's and FAQ's (9)
    • Legalization (27)
    • Visit Denver (21)

    Browse by tags

    420 budtender California Cannabis Cannabis Community Cannabis culture Cannabis Cup Cannabis Hyperemesis Cannabis Industry Cannabis Jobs Cannabis Legalization cbd CHS Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Travel Concentrates Cosmic Cannabis Culture denver dispensary Dispensary Jobs Edibles Health Health & Science Health and Wellness Hemp High Times how to Information Legalization Legal Marijuana Marijuana Marijuana Jobs Marijuana Policy Marijuana Retail Medical Marijuana Recreational Marijuana Research Science thc Things to See and Do Travel Guide vaping Washington DC Weed
    Visit our new
    cannabis destinations
    Visit our new cannabis friendly destinations
    Cannabis Tours California Logo
    Visit CannabisTours.com
  • Las Vegas
  • California
  • Portland
  • Boston
  • DC
  • Questions? Call Us 24/7 at

    303-420-TOURS

    Send us an Email (24/7 support)

    Customer Support

    We’re here to help!

    Open Online Chat

    Colorado Cannabis Tours 420 Logo

    The #1 Cannabis Tourism Company

    Questions? Call Us 24/7 at

    303-420-TOURS

    Email us (24/7 customer support)

    Connect with us!


    We never spam. We promise!

    Proud partners of
    CannabisTours.com

    Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association
    National Cannabis Industry Association

    Company

    • Careers
    • Media Inquiries
    • Guest Writers

    Navigation

    • Home
    • Denver Cannabis Tours
    • Denver 420 Friendly Hotels
    • 420 Friendly Ski Resort & Lodges
    • Marijuana Classes
    • Cannabis Services
    • Cannabis Tourism Packages
    • Denver April 20th (420) 2019 Packages
    • Gift Shop / Merchandise
    • Blog
    • Site Map
    Open Online Chat
    Email us (24/7 customer support)
    Cancellation and CCT Policies
    Privacy Policy

    Get in on the newsletter


    We never spam. We promise!

    Hit us up on social!

    Partners

    Proud partners of CannabisTours.com

    Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association
    National Cannabis Industry Association

    Navigation

    • Home
    • Denver Cannabis Tours
    • Denver 420 Friendly Hotels
    • 420 Friendly Ski Resort & Lodges
    • Marijuana Classes
    • Cannabis Services
    • Cannabis Tourism Packages
    • Denver April 20th (420) 2019 Packages
    • Gift Shop / Merchandise
    • Blog
    • Site Map

    Company

    • Careers
    • Media Inquiries
    • Guest Writers
    • Open Online Chat
    • Contact
    • Cancellation & CCT Policies
    • Privacy Policy

    CannabisTours.com © 2019