D.A.R.E. – Drug Abuse Resistance Education

The Berlin Police Department’s DARE officer is also the School Resource Officer, Steven Arsenault. The DARE program was introduced into the Berlin School District in 1991 and since its induction, approximately 1750 students have been through the program. The program has approximately 125 graduates per year from the 5th grade. The program is geared to junior high school students and teaches the prevention of substance use. DARE is taught in a classroom setting and also makes the students familiar with law enforcement. The lessons taught in DARE are on the resistance of peer pressure, gives students skills on proper decision making, provides accurate information on tobacco, alcohol and drugs. This program has been extremely successful since its induction.