Nationwide Implementation of New D.A.R.E. keepin’ it REAL Curriculum Accomplished

During 2011, nationwide implementation of the new D.A.R.E. keepin’ it REAL (kiR) middle school curriculum was accomplished. This milestone marked the end of the one year period all D.A.R.E. law enforcement agencies were given to transition to the new program.

The kiR curriculum was developed by The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and Arizona State University with funding provided by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. kiR is based upon more than 22 years of research which examines how youth are presented and competently resist offers of drugs. Rigorous scientific evaluation has shown kiR to be "evidence-based" - research proves that it works. Students participating in the kiR program showed:

• 32-44% reduction in marijuana, tobacco and alcohol use
• 30-38% increase in knowledge about and negative attitudes towards drug use
• 29-34% decrease in intent to accept substances

kiR is also science-based; it is built upon the following core elements (as listed in Hecht et al, 2003):

• communication competence,
• narrative-based knowledge to enhance identification with the prevention message,
• social norms (personal, injunctive, and descriptive),
• social learning of life skills and their role in risk assessment and decision making,
• drug resistance strategies most commonly and effectively used by adolescents, and
• social context.

kiR’s status as an evidenced and science-based curriculum is recognized as such by, among others:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices,
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention,
• U.S. Department of Education,
• California Department of Education, California Healthy Kids Resource Center

D.A.R.E.’s kiR curriculum came about as the result of collaboration among PSU, Dr. Michael Hecht, Dr. Michelle Miller-Day and D.A.R.E. America. D.A.R.E.’s partnership with kiR was the result of an exhaustive evaluation of prospective existing evidence-based prevention education programs with which to affiliate.

During the year in which agencies transitioned to the D.A.R.E. kiR middle school curriculum, remarkable acceptance was observed. A significant increase was witnessed in the expansion of existing D.A.R.E. middle school programs and there was notable increase in new program starts. The Society for Prevention Research ranked kiR among the most cost efficient prevention programs, citing a cost benefit ratio of 28:1 ($28 in benefits for every $1 spent). The Honorable Drew Allbritten, Ed.D., Executive Director of the National Middle School Association stated in correspondence to D.A.R.E. America, “ …we reviewed D.A.R.E. America’s new keepin’ it REAL middle school curriculum and believe that this curriculum is a valuable tool for student healthy decision-making.”

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D.A.R.E. Partners with DEA in National
Rx Take-Back Initiative

On October 29th, D.A.R.E. again partnered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for a National Prescription (Rx) Drug Take-Back Day. Americans participating in this third National Rx Drug Take-Back day turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted Rx medications for safe and proper disposal. There were more than 5,300 local take-back sites staffed by officers from 3,945 law enforcement agencies across the country. During three take-back events over the past 13 months, a total of 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of Rx medications have been removed from possible diversion and abuse.

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D.A.R.E. America Executive Law Enforcement
Advisory Board Profile – Attorney General Marty
J. Jackley, South Dakota

The D.A.R.E. America Executive Law Enforcement Advisory Board is an international group of esteemed law enforcement leaders. The group provides insight to D.A.R.E. America staff as to how D.A.R.E. programming can best meet the needs of the law enforcement community.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty J. Jackley has a well founded reputation for his support of D.A.R.E. Attorney General Jackley's office hosts the South Dakota D.A.R.E. Training Team, D.A.R.E. Training Facility and the State D.A.R.E. Coordinators Office at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre, SD. Under his guidance the Office of the Attorney General has developed a D.A.R.E. State Training Center and program support system which serves as a model for other states to emulate. He began his service as a member of the D.A.R.E. America Executive Law Enforcement Advisory Board in 2009.

Marty graduated with Honors from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1992, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Marty received his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1995. From 1995-97, Marty served as a law clerk for the US Federal District Court - District of South Dakota in Rapid City.

In 2006, after almost a decade as a partner with the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson, & Ashmore, LLP. , Marty was appointed and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. As US Attorney, he served on the US Attorney General's Subcommittee for Controlled Substances and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board.

Marty was recognized as the South Dakota Prosecutor of the Year for 2008 from the South Dakota State's Attorney's Association. He has been honored to serve as a National Advocacy Center Instructor in South Carolina for Basic Criminal Trial Advocacy for Assistant United States Attorneys.

On September 4, 2009, Marty was sworn in as the 30th Attorney General for the State of South Dakota. Marty was honored in the 2010 election to be chosen by South Dakota voters to serve another term as Attorney General.

Marty has a proven record of leading an office that protects families and is committed to crime prevention. South Dakota's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force proactively protects children from sexual predators, while South Dakota's Child Abduction Response Team has received national certification for its ability to respond to a missing child emergency. The Attorney General's Office has worked with the Legislature to strengthen the sex offender registry, and to develop a prescription drug monitoring program that emphasizes prevention over prosecution. South Dakota's 24/7 Alcohol Sobriety and Monitoring Program has been extended across South Dakota and the nation. The sobriety program has reduced the likelihood for alcohol re-offenses and requires the offenders to pay all of the program costs.

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