ST. MARYS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Drug Education

D.A.R.E.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education

A cooperative effort between schools and Law Enforcement.

D.A.R.E. consists of a 17 week core curriculum to sixth grade students.  The curriculum is based on life skills...  A semester long instruction will focus on...

• Peer pressure resistance training.

• Self-concept improvement.

• Personal safety.

• Decision making skills.

• Motivation to use those skills.

D.A.R.E. targets children at an age when they are most receptive to Drug Prevention Education, and their experimentation incidents with drugs and alcohol are very low if not non-existent.

This program also gives us as Law Enforcement Officers an effective means for positive influence on children.

Together with the St. Mary's School District we hope to build a mutually beneficial partnership to reduce substance abuse.

• Reward children.
• Take their ideas, emotions and feelings seriously.
• Define limits and rules clearly, and enforce them.
• Be a good role model.
• Teach your children how to deal with time and money.
• Have reasonable expectations for your children.
• Help your children develop tolerance toward those with different values, backgrounds and norms.
• Give your children responsibility.
• Be available.
• Show them that what they do is important to you.
• Express your values, but go beyond "do this" or "I want you to do that."
• Spend time together.
• Discuss problems without placing blame or commenting on a child's character.
• Use phrases that build self esteem, such as "Thank you for helping" or "That was an excellent idea!"
• Show how much you care about them.