They also need to watch what their kids are wearing and press for explanations of secret hand gestures and symbols, police say. It's got everything to do with parents doing what parents should do. One parent says her involvement wasn't enough. Earlier this year her son was convicted of car theft and credit card theft. But I just have to believe it's the environment and the peer pressure.
Students hear about the harmful effects of drugs and get tips on resisting peer pressure.
Police leaders say they want to expand the program to middle schools. Six N.C. departments, including Salisbury, and one S.C. department have the program. Salisbury Officer Karyn Pennington said her city 40 miles northeast of Charlotte has seen traces of graffiti, but no serious indications of gangs. The DARE program has also faced questions. A recent Kentucky study found no difference in drug abuse rates between kids in 23 schools who attended DARE and kids in eight schools who didn't.