DARE

talk with them to find out what they were thinking and how their thought process led them to the decision that got them in trouble. She and other officers use these experiences, without identifying those involved, when teaching DARE.

Nelson said DARE is just as effective as any other prevention program. He said if a program is not working, it’s because of the way it is being delivered.

Nelson said students aren’t going to give any credence if the instructor isn’t establishing some sort of rapport with the students.

When it comes to DARE programs not working out in a school, Nelson said, “We’ve never had an issue in Southern Maryland.”

Cook said the program may not work for everyone and there will always be students that feel they don’t need it.

“But if it works for some of them,” she said, “I feel it needs to stick around.”