The program was viewed as a positive effort to educate and help students recognize the effects of drug and alcohol use and resist peer pressure that often leads to experimentation with drugs. The majority of respondents assigned substantial value to the presence of the police on the school grounds and to the newly-formed bond between police and students promoted by the program. Many commented on the importance of the program as a means of linking schools and police for the common purpose of preventing drug abuse and experimentation. The program fosters a positive relationship between police and students. Seventy-five percent of the respondents reported that D.A.R.E. had positively affected students attitudes about and level of respect for law officers.
Police officers have a credibility unmatched by regular classroom teachers.
According to many, police officers direct experience working directly with the consequences of drug and alcohol use, violence, gangs and similar issues gave them more credibility to speak about the topic and their message was more powerful because of this credibility. The program provides a working relationship between the school and the police force. One gauge of D.A.R.E. s effectiveness was the fact that these two important community institutions worked together to solve a common problem. It left no ambiguity for students, parents or the rest of the community about how schools and police viewed drugs. Police officers receive good training and do a good job.