Pubdate: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) ALAMEDA COPS HAIL ANTI-DRUG STUDENTS Children Complete Program Teaching Them ALAMEDA -- The police department is holding a graduation celebration on Thursday for more than 500 students who have successfully completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. The program is co-sponsored by the Alameda Unified School District and supported by neighborhood businesses and the community. It's designed to give kids tools to resist peer pressure that might lead to experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Alameda was one of the first cities to implement the D.A.R.E. program in 1986. Since then, D.A.R.E.'s popularity has spread, and now more than 35 million kids in the United States and 49 other countries around the world have participated in the program. Since 1986, the city of Alameda has graduated 21,500 students who have completed the D.A.R.E. program. The police department has invited numerous government and school officials and community members to the event, which will be held at the Kaufman Auditorium at 2200 Central Ave. For more information call 337-8305. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom