Why DARE to Make a Choice?
This is an education programme for young people moving into the age group where some of their friends may be starting to experiment with licit and illicit substance use.
There are compelling reasons for beginning drug resistance education at this age, rather than leaving it until later. Dr Eric Ashcroft (retired) a specialist in curriculum design who evaluated the programme during its initial two year trial explains - "with older and habitual users, friendships, relationships and lifestyles all form around and reinforce the person's use of drugs, so that it becomes a huge task, virtually impossible, to break the habit. DARE to make a Choice is structured on sound principles of teaching and education. I want this for my grandchildren. I hope enough parents, grandparents and communities will realise its value for their children."
Learning activities involve students developing attitudes to the use of legal drugs that reflect responsible use or non-use. Although these drugs are classed as "legal" there are a number of formal laws and social customs which restrict their use. New Zealand Police and the DARE Foundation believe that students should be aware of and respect these.