The program's primary focus is fifth and sixth graders, because studies indicate that children in these grades are most responsive to prevention education. A Serious Problem D.A.R.E. was initiated because there continues to be an alarming increase in drug use among young people. Statistics show that 1 in 12 young people smoke marijuana regularly. While use of illicit drugs overall is falling nationally, the trend of drug abuse among young people continues to grow. In the last few years, the number of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 using hallucinogens, including LSD, has gone up 183 percent, according to a recent study by the federal government.
Many teens thinks smoking, drinking and using exotic drugs are passports to adulthood.
One of the unique features of D.A.R.E. is the use of police officers and sheriff's deputies as instructors. The D.A.R.E. officer's main audience is fifth and sixth grade students. He or she visits each class once a week and stays on campus all day, interacting with students during lunch or recess. Specialists in education and psychology train them to present D.A.R.E.'s 17 lesson program in an engaging and effective manner. Helping them develop alternatives to drug use D.A.R.E. instructors employ a variety of activity oriented techniques to involve students in group discussions, role playing exercises and a healthy exchange of ideas and feelings.