For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 7, 2004

National D.A.R.E. Day 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is one of the most widely recognized substance abuse and violence prevention programs in America. For more than 20 years, D.A.R.E. has brought specially trained police officers into classrooms to teach students about the importance of making healthy choices. These efforts have helped reduce illegal drug use in our country, but there remains work to be done.

Drug abuse costs people their health and robs them of their promise. A critical component of stopping illegal drug use is cutting the demand for drugs, and D.A.R.E. is an important part of expanding these efforts. By introducing students to local police officers and teaching them to become good citizens, D.A.R.E. also strengthens communities.

To help prevent illegal drug use, my National Drug Control Strategy includes the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign; support for drug-free community coalitions; and $25 million for student drug testing. Our hard work is showing results. Youth drug use declined 11 percent between 2001 and 2003, meaning that 400,000 fewer young people used drugs.

As we educate young people about the dangers of illegal drugs, we are also helping to heal those who have fallen into addiction and working to disrupt the market for illegal drugs. The collaborative efforts of concerned citizens and officials at the Federal, State, and local levels are making our neighborhoods safer and our children healthier.

We will continue to work toward a society in which all citizens are free from the devastating influence of drugs. Law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based groups, parents, teachers, and programs like D.A.R.E. are all working to achieve this goal.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 8, 2004, as National D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon our youth, parents, educators, and all Americans to join in the effort to reduce drug use by expressing appreciation for the health care professionals, law enforcement officials, volunteers, teachers, and all those who help young people avoid the dangers of illegal drugs and violence.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

Printer-Friendly Version

Email this page to a friend

Issues Economy Iraq Education National Security Homeland Security More Issues En Español Hurricane Relief   |   News Current News Press Briefings Proclamations Executive Orders Radio      |   News by Date   |   September 2004   |   August 2004   |   July 2004   |   June 2004   |   May 2004   |   April 2004   |   March 2004   |   February 2004   |   January 2004   |   December 2003   |   November 2003   |   October 2003   |   September 2003   |   August 2003   |   July 2003   |   June 2003   |   May 2003   |   April 2003   |   March 2003   |   February 2003   |   January 2003   |   December 2002   |   November 2002   |   October 2002   |   September 2002   |   August 2002   |   July 2002   |   June 2002   |   May 2002   |   April 2002   |   March 2002   |   February 2002   |   January 2002   |   December 2001   |   November 2001   |   October 2001   |   September 2001   |   August 2001   |   July 2001   |   June 2001   |   May 2001   |   April 2001   |   March 2001   |   February 2001   |   January 2001   |   Talk Back Ask the White House White House Interactive   |   Appointments Nominations Application