Drug Abuse Resistance Education - D.A.R.E.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is a prevention program taught to the city’s fifth-grade students. The Asheboro Police Department and Asheboro City Schools sponsor the 10-week program. Officer W.R. “Russ” Smith visits each of the city’s five public schools and three private schools once a week during the spring to teach the program.
Smith introduces himself to the students during the program’s first week and tells them a little about his job as a police officer. Students learn that the police do more than arrest and write tickets. Police help others. That’s why most officers choose this profession. Smith tells the students that he’s no different than they are – except for the polyester suit and badge. Students learn that they can relate to police officers and see them as more than just a uniform.
Lessons focus on the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs, and how students can say “No!” to each of them. Students are taught how companies use advertising to entice young people to try their products. Students learn how to be confident when refusing drugs and are reminded of the many, many drug-free activities in which they can participate rather than use. Each school has a D.A.R.E. graduation or “culmination” ceremony, during which students hear a guest speaker and awards are presented.
The D.A.R.E. program has been taught in the Asheboro City Schools since 1987. Thousands of children have successfully graduated the program during its nearly 25-year history here. D.A.R.E. was created in 1983 in Los Angeles, Calif., and remains a successful and immensely popular program. D.A.R.E. is taught in more than 75 percent of the school districts in the United States and more than 43 countries around the world.
If you have a question or comment about the D.A.R.E. program, you may contact Smith at the police department, 626-1300. For more information, please click on www.dare.com.