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D.A.R.E. Unit (251) 968-1131

The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program was developed in 1983 as a cooperative effort by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). D.A.R.E. is a drug abuse and violence prevention education program designed to stop drug use and violence before it begins. The program equips elementary school children with skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. The program places emphasis on reaching children in their last year of elementary school. They are given facts about violence and the effects of drugs and other harmful substances. The children are provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, and motivation to avoid being swept into drug use and violence as they move to middle and high school. This unique program utilizes specially trained, uniformed law enforcement officers to teach the 17 week curriculum.

D.A.R.E. was first taught in the City of Gulf Shores during 1990-91 school year as a pilot program for Southern Alabama at Gulf Shores Elementary School. Due to the overwhelming success of the program during that first year, the program was expanded to include classes in the middle and high schools.

Since its inception, the program has educated practically all of the fifth grade students that have attended elementary school within the City of Gulf Shores. This equates to approximately 1200 students. The program and the D.A.R.E. officer are also recognized by the majority of other elementary students that attend Gulf Shores schools. This is due to the publicity and attention of the program within those schools.

For more information on D.A.R.E., call Sgt. Mack Yohn at (251) 968-1131.