I started the Camdenton D.A.R.E. Program in November of 1991 with seven fifth grade classes and graduated approximately 190 students in April of 1992. I also started a K-4 program which consist of teaching these students about safety and introducing them to what drugs are. I received support from the Camdenton Police Department, Camdenton School and faculty, the students, the parents and the community. After the first year of D.A.R.E. I was very pleased with the response and support that the whole community had given towards this program.

This year marks the 17th year for teaching the D.A.R.E. Program in Camdenton and since the beginning of the program, it has increased to eleven fifth grade classes of approximately 275 students a year , a total of approximately 3870 students received the main D.A.R.E. PROGRAM. This does not included the lessons and visits to classes from K - 6th grade which I have visited throughout the year and taught smaller versions of the program. In the last 16 years I have visited with approximately 15000 students.

After 16 years of teaching D.A.R.E. I still believe that this program will make a difference in youth knowledge of the dangers of drug abuse and will help students in deciding which road to take for a better future. I believe not all students will stay away from drug abuse but at lease they will receive the knowledge at an earlier age, along with the warnings from other sources, that drug abuse is not the answer if they want a better future.