D.A.R.E.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education

Dare Lion

Since 1992 youth throughout Trempealeau County have benefited from the D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E. is a substance use prevention education program designed to equip elementary school children with skills for resisting peer pressure. The core curriculum is taught to either 5^th or 6^th grade students, before the students enter middle school where they are less supervised. By the time they reach middle school students are likely to receive increased peer pressure to use the gateway drugs: alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.

Recently, the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department has introduced the middle school D.A.R.E. curriculum. The middle school D.A.R.E. curriculum is intended to provide or reinforce the information and skills needed to enable students to resist peer pressure and other influences in making their personal choices.

D.A.R.E. teaches children that popularity can be found in positive behavior, and that self-confidence and self-worth come from asserting themselves and resisting destructive temptations such as drugs. D.A.R.E. teaches them not just that they should refuse drugs and alcohol, but how to do so. The ultimate goal we all face through the D.A.R.E. program is to help youngsters lead safe, healthy, drug-free lives.

“D.A.R.E. Car Project”

During the summer of 2001 Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department with the help of local businesses completed the new “D.A.R.E. Car Project.” The D.A.R.E. car was truly a collaborative effort on behalf of local businesses and Sheriff’s Department employees who donated their time and materials; no tax-payer dollars were utilized to complete this project.

The D.A.R.E. car is intended to connect with students, and increase support for the D.A.R.E. Program. The car has been featured in many local parades and events throughout Trempealeau County and continues to build enthusiasm with D.A.R.E. kids empowering them to remain drug-free and choose drug-free alternative activities.

The D.A.R.E. car also serves as a reminder for parents to continue on with the teaching triangle between parents, police, and schools to increase the assurance that our children remain drug-free.

The D.A.R.E. car is a symbol of the enthusiasm of the program and the efforts that the students put into it. Through the continued support of our communities the D.A.R.E. Program will continue educating our youth of the dangers of drug use and the power of positive alternative activities.

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