by James Bovard

About the author: James Bovard is the author of Shakedown: How Government Screws You from A to Z.

American schools are providing more anti-drug use education than ever before, primarily through the DARE program—Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Federal, state, and local governments and private donors are spending roughly $700 million a year on DARE, which is currently being taught by police officers to more than 5 million children in more than 250,000 classrooms each year.

DARE Everywhere

DARE in operation sometimes resembles a religious crusade. As an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted, “Schools in Minnesota fly the DARE flag. Students can buy DARE frisbees, wear a DARE wristwatch or sing the official DARE song.” Students are also able to win or purchase DARE pencils, erasers, workbooks, and certificates of achievement...