The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program has been taught in Cypress since 1985 and was one of the first cities in Orange County to teach D.A.R.E. All six grade students from the Cypress School District, as well as two schools from the Savanna School District and three private schools (totaling approximately nine hundred students) receive the D.A.R.E. curriculum each year.

The program has been taught by specially trained police officers from the Cypress Police Department. These officers receive an extensive eighty (80) hour training class from D.A.R.E. America approved training sites. The emphasis of the D.A.R.E. program is to help students to make healthy choices to recognize and resist the many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants, or other drugs and engage in acts of violence.

The program content of D.A.R.E. is organized into ten 45-60 minute lessons. The program offers a variety of interactive, group participation, cooperative-learning activities which are designed to encourage students to make healthy decisions to solve problems of major importance in their lives. The last lesson of D.A.R.E. is a culminating assembly to recognize the students for their commitment to be drug free.

At the end of the school year, the Cypress Police Department holds a D.A.R.E. Magic Show for all of the D.A.R.E. graduates. This is a celebration when all the D.A.R.E. students come together to have fun, interact with other students, teachers and adults to build self-esteem and demonstrate a positive alternative to drug use.

The Cypress Police Department is fortunate to have a new D.A.R.E. vehicle that was graciously donated by Mitsubishi Motor Sales of North America. A new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer was donated to the D.A.R.E. program. The vehicle was outfitted with emergency lights, a state-of-the-art police radio system, and a custom audio system. The Lancer also received a custom paint scheme and graphics which sports “DARIN,” the D.A.R.E. mascot on the sides of the vehicle. The Cypress D.A.R.E. program appreciates both the generosity and partnership we have with the business community to create a drug free environment for the youth of Cypress.

For more information regarding the Cypress D.A.R.E. program, contact Officer Jeff Wong at 714-229-6626.

Visit the D.A.R.E. website at www.dareamerica.com