ROSEVILLE -- Since 1983 the DARE program has grown and evolved to fit the environment children are facing.

And the biggest change is in the acronym.

When DARE began in Los Angeles County, Calif., DARE stood for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Today, DARE also stands for define, assess, respond, evaluate -- the four-step model law enforcement officers ingrain in the minds of children during the program.

"I think the DARE model has given the kids the ability to actually think through the problem," said Tim Taylor, a Roseville Middle School science teacher. "They work through the steps to understand what might and what might not be a good decision."

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