Drug and gang prevention are crucial elements of the Fort Myers Police Department's juvenile crime prevention program

D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Specially trained officers teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum to fifth-graders in each of the city's public arid private elementary schools.

The officers utilize a variety of activity-oriented techniques to encourage student-generated responses to problem situations. The program strives to build self- esteem and confidence and gives children the tools they need to resist drugs.

G.R.E.A.T., or Gang Resistance Education And Training, is taught in the city's middle schools. G.R.E.A.T. provides an advanced course on gang resistance to give middle school students techniques to avoid getting involved with gangs.