What does DARE stand for? Written D.A.R.E. by the program itself, it stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is a classroom program in which trained police officers visit schools to teach students about drugs, alcohol, peer pressure and making safe choices.
The program began in Los Angeles in 1983 as a joint effort of the city police department and the school district. It spread quickly to other states and then to other countries. Many American adults remember a DARE officer from fifth or sixth grade, a graduation ceremony at the end of the lessons and a T-shirt with the bold red letters.
Quick facts
Stands for
Drug Abuse Resistance EducationOfficial spelling
D.A.R.E., with periodsType
Acronym, said as the word "dare"Started
1983, Los AngelesTaught by
Police officers trained as instructorsUsed in
Elementary and middle schoolsNot to be confused with
The word dare, or DAR
What does D.A.R.E. stand for, letter by letter?
| Letter | Word | Meaning in the program |
|---|---|---|
| D | Drug | Illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco and misused medicine |
| A | Abuse | Harmful use |
| R | Resistance | The skill of saying no and walking away |
| E | Education | Lessons taught in a classroom |
The letters also spell an ordinary English word, and that was clearly part of the appeal. A program that "dares" kids to resist pressure is easy to remember. Spoken aloud as one word, DARE counts as a real acronym rather than a string of letters, a distinction explained on our what is an acronym page.
What does DARE stand for in school?
In a school setting, DARE means a set of weekly lessons led by a local officer, usually over several weeks. Topics often include:
- How drugs and alcohol affect the body and brain
- Handling peer pressure and saying no without losing friends
- Making decisions step by step
- Dealing with stress, bullying and online safety
- Knowing which trusted adults to go to for help
Note sent home: "Officer Ramos will start DARE lessons with our fifth graders on Tuesday. Students will write a short essay at the end of the program." Here DARE names the course, and the essay is a common final step.
How the program has changed
The DARE acronym has stayed the same, but the lessons have not. Research in the 1990s found that the original lessons did little to lower drug use among students years later. The organization responded by rewriting its program around decision making and social skills rather than mostly facts about drugs.
People still hold different views. Supporters say the classes build trust between young people and police and teach useful life skills. Critics question whether officers are the best teachers for this topic and whether the time could be spent on other approaches. Schools decide locally whether to take part.
Other meanings of the letters
Lowercase, dare is a common verb: "I dare you to try the hot sauce." In a game of truth or dare, it means a challenge. Those uses have nothing to do with the school program.
Close look-alikes include DAR, the Daughters of the American Revolution, a group for women descended from people who served in the American Revolution. It is a separate group with a different purpose. When the letters appear in capitals or with periods on a school form, they almost always point to the drug education program.
Writing it correctly
- The program writes its own name D.A.R.E., with periods after each letter.
- Many news stories and everyday writers use DARE with no periods. Both are understood.
- Use capitals either way, so readers can tell it apart from the plain verb dare.
- Say it as one word, "dair."
- Use "a" before it: "a DARE officer," "a DARE class."
However you write it, DARE stands for the same four words, and the capitals are what separate the program from the everyday verb.
Questions people ask
What does D.A.R.E stand for on a school shirt?
It refers to the D.A.R.E. program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Students often get the shirt when they finish the lessons.
Who teaches DARE classes?
Local police officers or sheriff's deputies who have taken DARE instructor training. They teach in the classroom alongside the regular teacher.
Is DARE still taught in schools?
Yes, in many districts, though not everywhere. Each school or district chooses whether to offer it.
Does DARE work?
Early studies found the original lessons had little long term effect on drug use. The program later rewrote its lessons, and opinions on its value still differ.
What does the R in DARE stand for?
The R stands for Resistance, meaning the skill of turning down drugs and pressure from others.