Mission and Goals

Our Core Mission

The Elks Drug Awareness Program exists for one fundamental purpose: to prevent drug use before it starts. This mission is built on decades of research showing that education and prevention are far more effective than treatment and intervention.

Why Prevention Works

Consider these facts about drug prevention:

• For every dollar spent on prevention, communities save between $4 and $7 in treatment, criminal justice, and healthcare costs
• Young people who learn refusal skills are significantly less likely to experiment with drugs
• Students who understand the real risks of drug use make better decisions when faced with peer pressure
• Early education—before first exposure to drugs—is the most effective intervention point

This is why DAP focuses on reaching students in elementary school through high school, before most drug experimentation begins.

The Four Pillars of DAP

Every DAP presentation and activity is built on four core pillars:

1. Education

We provide accurate, science-based information about drugs and their effects on the brain, body, and life. We don't use scare tactics or exaggerate—young people can detect dishonesty, and it undermines our credibility. Instead, we share factual information appropriate for each age group.

2. Empowerment

Knowledge alone isn't enough. Students need practical skills to resist peer pressure and make healthy choices. DAP teaches decision-making frameworks, refusal techniques, and strategies for handling difficult social situations.

3. Community

Drug prevention isn't just about reaching students—it's about building a community-wide commitment to protecting young people. DAP engages parents, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement, and community organizations in the prevention effort.

4. Connection

Research shows that young people with strong connections to caring adults are less likely to use drugs. DAP volunteers serve as positive role models who demonstrate that adults in their community care about their wellbeing.

What Success Looks Like

After participating in DAP programs, students should:

• Understand the real risks of drug use, including effects on brain development, academic performance, relationships, and future opportunities
• Recognize manipulation in media, advertising, and peer pressure situations
• Have refusal strategies they can use when offered drugs or pressured to use
• Know where to find help if they or someone they know is struggling with substance abuse
• Feel supported by adults in their community who care about their future

Prevention vs. Intervention

It's important to understand the difference between prevention and intervention:

Prevention reaches people before they start using drugs. This is DAP's focus. We work with students who have not yet experimented with substances, giving them the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices.

Intervention helps people who are already using drugs. This requires trained counselors, treatment programs, and medical support. This is NOT DAP's role.

If you encounter a student who is currently struggling with substance abuse, your job is not to counsel them—it's to connect them with appropriate resources. We'll cover how to handle these situations in later lessons.

Your Role in the Mission

As a DAP presenter, you are an ambassador for this mission. Your credibility, preparation, and genuine care for students directly impacts how effectively you can reach them. You don't need to be a drug expert or a professional speaker—you need to be a caring adult who is willing to show up and share an important message.