Drug abuse is one of the major problems confronting our society today.  Nationally, drug use is on the rise and the problem permeates every level of our society.  Unfortunately, suburban communities, such as Green Township, are not immune from the problems caused by drug abuse.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is the most widely used program aimed at preventing our young people from becoming involved in drug use.  Research has proven that D.A.R.E. graduates have more negative attitudes about drug use, than do students who have not been through the program.

D.A.R.E. was started in 1983 in Los Angeles, California.  In 1992, the Green Township Police Department started the D.A.R.E. Program in several of our elementary schools.  Presently, we teach the program at seven elementary schools in Green Township.  The D.A.R.E. Program is taught in   three other schools in Green Township by other police departments.

Fifth grade students in Green Township are taught the D.A.R.E. Program by uniformed police officers.  After completing the ten week program, the students attend a graduation ceremony.  As of the end of the 2006-2007 school year, 10,739 fifth grade students have graduated from a D.A.R.E. Program instructed by Green Township Police Officers.  

The D.A.R.E. topics of instruction are:

  The Green Township D.A.R.E. officers and their schools are:

P/O Shannon Crone - St. Antoninus, Springmyer 
P/O Scott Hamilton   - John Foster Dulles 
P/O Larry Zettler - St. Aloysius, Oakdale, St. James, Our Lady of Visitation, St. Jude