D.A.R.E. was originally developed by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1983 and has spread throughout the United States. Conceived on the premise that prevention is the only long term answer to our drug problem, this innovative program is proving to be effective and is now taught in schools in all 50 states and many foreign countries.

The program is seventeen weeks long and consists of many life building skills. Through D.A.R.E. students learn that friends will not push them into using tobacco, alcohol, drugs, alcohol, and inhalants and that growing up means making their own decisions and coping with problems in a positive way. Most importantly, students learn and practice specific strategies for responding to peers who offer them dangerous substances, rehearsing how to say no effectively.

Prior to completion of the D.A.R.E Program, each student writes an essay about D.A.R.E. Each student receives a D.A.R.E T-shirt and certificate of completion. The D.A.R.E program in Liberty County is funded by the use of donations and fund raising activities by the D.A.R.E Unit as well as funds from Federal Grants obtained by the Sheriff's Department.