Importance of D.A.R.E Programme in USA Essay Example

the devastating consequences of such practices. The program which mainly targets school children was developed by the government to help advocate for the adverse effects of drug abuse and drug addiction in the country so as to enhance kids to make an informed judgment on whether they should stop abusing drug or not.

The program which has managed to cover 75% of the US schools districts all over the states in America, has played a significant role in reducing the prevalence of drug addiction among children (D.A.R.E). Despite this positive role that the program has impacted in the society, individuals are still divided on whether the program should be continued or not. While the proponents of this program suggest that the program has played a prime role in reducing drug abuse and addiction in the country, the opponents of the program, on the other hand, are of the view that the program has been ineffective in curbing the increasing trend of drug addiction among teenagers. Despite the vast financial resources that are always set aside by the government to enable the program to operate.

These opponents, therefore, argue that the program should be disbanded. The question that therefore remains to be answered is whether the D.A.R.E program is effective or ineffective in addressing drug abuse among children in the country. It is important to appreciate the key benefits that the D.A.R.E program has impacted in our society today. The program has helped prevent drug use in elementary, middle, and high school students. The report released by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that 40% of those individuals who took part in the rehabilitation

process conducted by the program showed much improvement in reducing their consumption and abuse of drug-related problem (West, Steven and Keri).

The program has also improved the aspect of decision-making among the participants with the children showing many aspects of critical and creative thinking in everything that they do. It is a fact that most children are always confined to the chains of peer pressure which compel them to do some undesirable activities such as drug abuse. These kids have been vulnerable to the high rate of peer pressure making them lack independent and critical thinking. However, after taking part in the program, these children have portrayed the aspect of the high level of intelligence and critical thinking. These two elements have enabled them to make their own profound judgment concerning drug abuse thus not relying on their older friends to make such decision for them.

By doing this, these children have shown no interest in alcohol and other drugs at all. In many occasions, children especially the ones from high school and colleges have always shown much hate towards police officers who they view to be an impediment towards achieving maximum pleasure from abusing drugs. These children will always prefer to have minimum contact and interaction with the police officers for fear of being arrested for contravening the law. However, the program has enhanced the social interaction between the police officers and the children thus increasing the acceptance of the police personnel in the society and even making parents to appreciate the important role that police officers play in streamlining their children and preventing them from associating with undesirable activities such as drug abuse and crime.

D.A.R.E

program has been criticized for various issues. One of these disadvantages associated with the program is the fact that it does not necessarily enhance reduction in drug abuse among students. The program has also been criticized due to its ability to make kids to ignore legitimate information about the relative harms of drugs. The following disadvantage associated with the program is that it is expensive and time-consuming. The government spends a lot of millions of dollars paying the police officers and other staffs just with the objective of teaching students the need to stop abusing drugs. These financial resources can be used in other essential services such as the provision of medical services to the sick.

The other disadvantage associated with the program is that it is time-consuming and in most cases, the police officers who should be out in the street maintaining law and order are used in the program to teach these students on the need to avoid drug abuse and addiction.

Work Cited

• John Hinderaker. Is DARE Doing Kids More Harm? Retrieved from www.americanexperiment.org/article/is-dare-doing-kids-more-harm. 4th April 2011. Accessed on 14th December, 2016. Print.
• D.A.R.E Programme. Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America's Kids (K-12)? Retrieved from dare.procon.org/view.answers. php?questionID=001604. Acessed on 14th December, 2016.

  Print.

• West, Steven L., and Keri K. O'Neal. "Project DARE outcome effectiveness revisited." American Journal of Public Health 94.6 (2004): 1027-1029. Print.