Drug education in Colorado has shifted sharply since the 1980s, moving away from fear-based abstinence messaging toward broader health promotion and decision-making skills aimed at preventing addictions.
In one report, educators and civic leaders in Colorado are taking more proactive approaches to build life skills without drugs.
How Colorado Schools Approach Drug and Alcohol Addiction Prevention
Campaigns like “Just Say No” framed drug use as a matter of resisting peer pressure during the Reagan era of the 1980s.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program assigned police officers in classrooms nationwide in response to rising youth drug experimentation and the spread of street drugs like crack. D.A.R.E. originated in Los Angeles and grew rapidly. It eventually received nearly $750 million in federal funding.
But by the early 2000s, research found the program had little measurable impact on preventing student drug use. James Hurdley, a consultant with the Colorado Department of Education, explained, “Someone pushing in and talking about the dangers doesn’t work.”
D.A.R.E. revised its national curriculum in 2011 to emphasize skill building and now relies on grants and fundraising instead of federal appropriations. This has led to a decentralized approach to drug and alcohol education across states including Colorado.
D.A.R.E. has long since vanished from many school districts across Colorado, including Boulder. Teachers usually handle drug education.
Building Resilience to Prevent Teen Addiction
Drug education in Colorado has since transformed. Schools now focus on wellness, decision-making and practical life skills. Educators recognize that information alone does not reliably influence behavior.
Colorado teens continue to report higher than average drug use compared to national peers but educators caution that drug availability and social norms influence rates and not just the classroom.
The curriculum in Boulder Valley School District begins teaching healthy decision-making in second grade. The course abides by the state’s health standards.
Hurley noted, “We want students to build real skills. That includes analyzing influences, finding reliable information, decision-making, communication, refusal skills and self-management.” Lessons now include stress management, coping strategies and nutrition.
Disciplinary responses have also changed. Districts now prioritize early intervention and assessment over suspension when signs of substance use appear. For instance, Boulder Valley School District often refers students to Teen Intervene. It’s an early intervention and assessment program.
Hurley emphasized that perceptions often overstate the problem when trying to find out the truth concerning teen drug use.
“Most kids aren’t smoking. Most kids aren’t drinking. Most kids aren’t vaping,” he notes. “Changing those perceptions matters. Health education can help do that by focusing on what students are doing right, not just what they should avoid.”
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While schools take steps to prevent drug and alcohol addictions, some teens and families may still need professional support. You can search for rehab centers nearby or call
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