A drug-awareness program, according to the Nevada Institute for Children, should meet certain standards. They should be for critical age groups; provide several years of intervention; teach drug resistance skills and foster social bonding. In order to be successful, the curriculum of a drug prevention program should include research-backed lesson plans and materials provided to participants. The content needs to be age, culturally and developmentally appropriate.
D.A.R.E.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, famously known as D.A.R.E, was founded in 1983 by Daryl Gates, then the Los Angeles chief of police. Originally organized to help children resist involvement in a drug culture, D.A.R.E.'s mission now is "to give kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence."
D.A.R.E. is implemented in about three quarters of the nation's school districts and has grassroots chapters in more than 220 communities. D.A.R.E. sends police officers into classrooms and talks to children from kindergarten age through to 12th grade about how to recognize and resist peer pressure and live violence free.
Officers undergo 80 hours of training in child development, classroom management and communication skills. Most importantly, the program humanizes police officers and encourages youth to see them outside an enforcement situation.
Elks Drug Awareness Program
The Elks National Drug Awareness Program, founded in 1982 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is one of the largest volunteer drug awareness programs in America. The Elks drug awareness program's mission is to teach children and parents about the harms of drug use. It is a community-based program that partners federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, with community organizations.
The Elks have 2,100 lodges in the United States and 90 drug education trailers that are provided at community gatherings, fairs and sporting events. Marvel Comic Books published a book featuring Elroy the Elk battling underage drinking. The Elks also sponsor an annual essay and poster contest that awards children for expressing their feelings about peer pressure.
PRIDE Youth Programs
Formerly Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education, PRIDE is one the oldest and largest peer organizations that educates teens on drug abuse and violence prevention. Pride organizes an annual conference for teams of students ranging in age from kindergarten to college.
PRIDE has a variety of distinct programs. America's PRIDE offers peer counseling and community outreach led by teens aged 14 to 18. Club PRIDE, for children aged 11 to 13, is based in schools and communities and nurtures character development, leadership skills and practical skills. The International Training Team for college students takes groups around the country to teach drug education, action planning and PRIDE team development.
Ninety-five percent of PRIDE youth members report that the program increased their knowledge of the risks caused by drug use. PRIDE offers children a supportive community of drug-free friends. More than 90 percent of children who get involved with PRIDE also volunteer in their communities.
