REMEMBER SEPT. 15 –
Aug. 2022 – The D.A.R.E. program was developed by the Los Angeles Police Department to educate people. As it proved successful, other cities adopted similar approaches, and soon enough, D.A.R.E. programs became a national standard applied in schools across the U.S. The program caught the attention of then-president Ronald Reagan, who announced the first national celebration of D.A.R.E. Day. At the height of their existence, D.A.R.E. programs were funded by the federal government and commissioned by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
Many schools still organize D.A.R.E. programs, but as of today, several studies on the effectiveness of some methods used in the programs have led to alterations. Despite the numerous changes to the programs, D.A.R.E. Day is still a nationwide celebration with educational activities organized to commemorate it each year, and the main message of prevention of drug addiction and abuse still resonates.
