Drug education program is changing in Minnesota schools

Minnesota is rethinking the role of Drug Abuse Resistance Education  in the state's public school system, though the program is trying to reinvent itself.  D.A.R.E. participation has dropped steadily in Minnesota since 2007. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the Minnesota Education Department's latest Student Surveys in 2007 and 2004, showed drug and alcohol use in the past year among sixth-, ninth- and 12th-graders in the metro area steadily increased from 3 percent of sixth-graders to at least 29 percent of 12th-graders, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program. To prove its relevancy, D.A.R.E.  has added lessons about online safety, bullying, choosing good role models and other current topics, reports Maricella Miranda.

Some school systems have also dropped the program to save money. In response, the D.A.R.E. program in Minnesota began partnering with specialized groups and companies for some lessons. "Computer experts from the Geek Squad teach students about online safety, and officials from the Minnesota Pharmacists Association talk about the effects of mixing prescription drugs," according to Miranda. The curriculum has been revamped at least 10 times since its creation in 1983. (Read more)