POLICE DEPARTMENT

D.A.R.E. Program

Officer Kim Giugler - D.A.R.E. Officer

History

In 1983, Chief Darryl Gates of the Los Angeles Police Department and Dr. Harry Handler of the Los Angeles Unified School District met and discussed the drug problem. They agreed a cooperative effort might be more successful in the war on drugs than just arresting violators. It's simple supply and demand. If you can reduce the demand for drugs the price will fall. As the prices fall, the dealers will have to find another way to make a profit.

Education and medical experts agree that a prevention program must begin in the elementary grades to be most effective. DARE is geared toward fifth and sixth grade. The program expanded to include a kindergarten through grade 4 program. Police officers now teach the DARE curriculum to elementary students worldwide.

The DARE Curriculum

DARE is an acronym for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education. DARE not only teaches kids they should say no, but how to say no. The program consists of 13 lessons plus a culmination program.

LESSONS:

  1. Introduces the class to the DARE program and the DARE officer. 

  2. Helps the students to develop knowledge of the basic drug facts and the harmful effects of misusing drugs.

  3. Helps students understand there are many consequences resulting from the misuse of drugs.

  4. Makes students aware of the extent of drug use among adolescents and how to resist peer pressure and say no to drug offers.

  5. Students learn and practice effective ways to respond to different kinds of pressure to use drugs.

  6. Helps students understand that self-esteem is a way a person feels about themselves and how positive and negative feelings and experiences affect self-esteem.

  7. Teaches students to stand up for themselves and be assertive when responding to drug offers. The assertive response style not only allows one to stand up for themselves but to respect the rights of others.

  8. Helps students recognize stress encountered in their daily living and to suggest ways to deal with it other than by taking drugs.

  9. Helps students recognize that destructive acts of violence are inappropriate ways to deal with anger and to resolve disagreements.

  10. Helps students develop the understanding and skills needed to analyze how the media can influence the way people think, feel, and act about drug use and violence.

  11. Helps students apply the decision-making skills in evaluating the risks in situations involving drug use, tagging, and using weapons.

  12. Helps students find activities that are interesting and rewarding alternatives to drug use.

  13. Acquaints students with high school leaders who do not use drugs.

  14. Helps students identify the negative consequences of gang violence suggests ways to avoid becoming involved.

  15. Students summarize what they learned from participating in DARE.

  16. Students write essays about their commitment to be drug free and read them aloud in front of the class.

  17. The DARE culmination recognizes the students' achievements and encourages them to pledge publicly to stay drug free.

Shorewood Police DARE Program

The Shorewood Police started providing the DARE program to the fifth grade at Troy elementary schools in 1989. In 1992, the program expanded to include kindergarten through fourth grades.

Contact Person

Officer Kim Giugler teaches DARE at the Troy-Shorewood Elementary School and the Holy Family School. Contact Officer Kim Giugler at (815)725-1460.