History
The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office has been involved with the D.A.R.E. Program in conjunction with the Allegany County Board of Education, as well as the Maryland State Police since the programs beginning in Allegany County during the 1989-1990 school year. This program is a national recognized instructional program, which was adapted and implemented in Maryland in 1986, based on the original program which began in Los Angeles, California in 1983. The program is geared toward pre-teen students, and is designed to help educate and inform them of the dangers and effects caused by both drug and alcohol abuse. It also provides students positive ways to help them resist the temptation of using drugs and alcohol.


Community Effects
Deputies visit every class of students, from kindergarten through 4th grade, and talk about the program, as well as covering basic firearms safety, bus safety, and other safety concerns that children face on a daily basis, in an effort to reinforce positive values to the students to help them realize the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on their young lives.

The D.A.R.E. Officers also attend various community sponsored events which involve children and their families. At these events the officers have information available, not only for the students, but also for the parents and other family members. The officers assigned to the program also attend periodic training seminars and meetings with other certified D.A.R.E. Instructors from across both the State and the Nation.

Contact Information
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Allegany County Board Of Education
108 Washington Street
Cumberland, Maryland 21502-0439
301-759-2063