DARE program returns to Lenoir County Schools

KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — In Lenoir County, the Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE) is back in public schools.

It is now being branded as “Keepin’ it Real.” It’s a 10-week program the county is trying out in a fifth-grade classroom in every county school. The first lessons were this week at Contentnea-Savannah School.

“There is a drug component, say no to drugs, how harmful drugs are, but there’s also a vaping component,” Lenoir County Schools Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Harvey said. “There’s also a component to make better decisions, whether it’s doing your homework, whether it’s anti-bullying. So, it runs a full gamut now. So that excites me too, that it’s not just the drug component, but it’s also better life decisions.”

School leaders said the program hasn’t been active in the school system for about 15 years. They’re excited for how it will help students in the future.

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