D.A.R.E program educates local elementary students on dangers of drug abuse, provides them life skills

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. Drug Abuse Resistance Education or the D.A.R.E Program is changing the lives of students at Worcester Preparatory School in collaboration with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

“I learned a lot of facts about alcohol and tobacco. I’ve also learned how to deal with some stressful situations and what peer pressure is,” 5th grader Maddie Bobenko said.

The national program is considered to provide the most comprehensive drug prevention education for grade school students. “These are specifically trained police officers that go through a very rigorous 80 hours of training to be certified D.A.R.E officers. They essential have to become a teacher,” Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said.

Over time. the curriculum has evolved to also give students tools to prevent bullying and to stay safe on the internet. 5th grader Rodolphe Crevecoeur told us he’s been soaking it all in. “We’re paired as buddies so we can learn together to solve a situation because in life you can’t always solve the situation by yourself,” he said.

Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said it also an opportunity for foster the relationships between children and law enforcement. “We want our children to feel safe and comfortable to approach a law enforcement officer if they have questions or are in fear of something or if they see something in their community,” Sheriff Crisafulli said.

The program has been proven to be effective. According to the program’s website, was a nearly 44% reduction in marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol use in students grade 6-9 that completed the program. “I will never consumer anything that could hurt me because that’s just the worst possible thing you can do. I’ll have a healthy future and I can also help people have a healthy future,” Bobenko said. “The younger you learn all these things, the longer it’s going to stay with you because you’re learn all of this at such a young age,” Crevecoeur said.

To graduate the program, students must complete an essay on their experience.

Sheriff Crisafulli also told he is the highest-ranking D.A.R.E officer in the state of Maryland.