Substance abuse is a common problem that can affect any person, family or community. Drug and alcohol use has serious physical, mental and emotional consequences and can hurt not just the user but also those surrounding him. Because substance abuse is such a problem, many awareness programs have been established, several of which aim to prevent substance abuse in children.
D.A.R.E.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is a drug awareness program aimed toward children. The program involves a series of police-officer-led classroom lessons that teach children from kindergarten through grade 12 how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug- and violence-free lives. It provides children with the skills needed to recognize and resist the pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in violent activities. Officers undergo 80 hours of training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques and communication skills.
D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence-prevention programs. The program reaches millions of school-aged children around the world. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 and is in 75 percent of our nation's school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world. D.A.R.E. has received praise from presidents, governors and Congress members.
SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA provides several services to the public. It conducts many programs and initiatives aimed at preventing substance abuse. These programs are available to families, youth, schools, workplaces and communities. In addition, SAMHSA distributes about 1.8 million individual substance awareness publications per month, maintains a website and has an email distribution system with about 17,000 subscribers. SAMHSA also has a contact center open 24 hours a day, available to those needing assistance.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that operates national public education programs. Some of these include the Parent Campaign, aimed at greater parental involvement in the decisions kids make about drugs; the website CheckYourself.com, where teens can think about their relationship with drugs and alcohol; and Rx/OTC Abuse, the first national education program to reduce teen abuse of prescription drugs. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America aims to unite parents, researchers and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children.
DMV
The Department of Motor Vehicles requires all those seeking a driver's license to complete a driver education program. Driver education programs must include the study of alcohol safety and drug abuse awareness. This study can help new drivers understand the physical effects of substance abuse of drugs and alcohol and its effect on driving.
AntiDrug.com
AntiDrug.com is a website created by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. It is designed to give parents and caregivers the tools they need to raise drug-free kids. The site provides expert advice, scientific information, support groups and perspective from others in similar situations.
