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The issue of drugs, gangs, and violence in general is all around us, everywhere in the world. Gangs, drugs, and violence are such a known issue in our world that it is imperative children learn skills to help them avoid these paths in life. Specifically, this issue is growing among our adolescents and is very well known in schools, more so middle school to high-school but younger kids are aware of these issues as well. They are issues that affect everyone in some shape, way or form and they are issues that many people are trying to solve and make better of the situation.

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D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and their mission is “Teaching students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives.” and their vision is “A world in which students everywhere are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse, and other dangerous behaviours.” The program itself is a series of classroom lessons led by police officers that educate children on ways to resist peer pressure and give them skills on how to live drug and violence-free lives. The purpose of D.A.R.E. is to stop the drug, gang and violence involvement before it actually happens rather than the multiple programs available for treatment of these issues. Typically, as societies we are so focused on how to solve problems, the fix after it happens but rarely do we think about how to prevent them. This program started out in Los Angeles but is now used in 75% of their nations school districts as well as more than 52 countries around the world including Canada. What was once a small new and innovative substance abuse prevention education program is now known worldwide and used in millions of schools across the globe.

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These individuals who take part in this program are able to take the skills they learn and use them for themselves, but they can also teach them to their peers.They work together to teach children and youths how to stop abuse before it happens. D.A.R.E. teaches children and youth to live their lives free from violence, substance abuse and other dangerous behaviours. With these individuals learning these tools it prevents these dangerous activities from children and hitting the streets. D.A.R.E teaches kids to protect themselves, as well as others.Since D.A.R.E. is all around the world, it teaches everyone from all different cultures about the seriousness about drug, violence and gangs because they can be very different in the world.

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The D.A.R.E program is already being implemented in Canada, including Ontario. Specifically focusing on Hamilton, we have so many youths that are involved in gangs, drugs, and violence. It would be so beneficial to implement D.A.R.E. programs in our schools so that we can reach the youth before they get involved and help the individuals who are already taking part in this behaviour. By having D.A.R.E. programs in our schools or even offered in the community, our youth would obtain the need to know information on drugs, violence, and gangs. Through the D.A.R.E. program our youth would learn the skills they need to know in order for them to avoid getting involved with drugs, gangs, and violence. Therefore, Hamilton and the youth in this city along with the rest of the community would do well to have the D.A.R.E. program available here.

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All around the world we face the issue of drugs, gangs, and violence. The program D.A.R.E. is an amazing program that focuses on awareness and prevention of involvement in high risk behaviours like drugs, gangs, and violence. As this program is already being implemented in Canada, we should be seeing it soon among our communities like Hamilton which would benefit everyone greatly. With youth involvement in gangs, drugs, and violence this innovation will be used soon to help with this rising situation among our youth. D.A.R.E. is a great program to consider for youth or communities struggling with high risk behaviours such as drugs, gangs, and violence.

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"Teaching Students Decision-Making for Safe & Healthy Living." D.A.R.E. America. Accessed April 09, 2018. https://dare.org/.