It has since spread nationwide and abroad, as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Millions have been exposed to it. In most forms it consists of 17 one hour sessions, held weekly and covering subjects ranging from refusal skills to alternatives to drug use. It is taught by uniformed police officers and usually begins with fifth graders. Funding comes from both governmental and private sources.
Nothing is wrong with teaching anybody of any age to assert themselves and think for themselves.
Breaking the back of peer pressure is hard to do. And this can also help reject pressure to engage in unwanted sex and other temptations. What makes DARE different is having police officers teach the classes. That's kind of like having teachers arrest muggers. That's not their job - it's not what they have been trained to do.