I have been a police officer for the past 17 years. With D.A.R.E. I’m working in prevention rather than intervention.  Below are some guidelines you may want to utilize:

The first thing a parent can do in the fight to have a drug-free child is learn about the kind of drugs kids’ use /abuse. This will put you in a good position to have frank, open discussions with your children to impress upon them that they are being sold, a bill of goods by the drug culture. That they are being led to believe that drugs are "cool" when in fact they represent a tremendous health hazard. Armed with the proper information, you can give your kids the help they need to say "no" to drugs. 

It's important for you to encourage your children to get involved in activities that can give them a "natural" high. Sports, recreational, religious and volunteer activities can be real substitutes for drugs. It's important for both you and your children to discuss rules of behavior and to set clear and distinct limits they can understand.

It's also crucial that you participate. Form groups with other concerned parents. Join your PTA. Invite your D.A.R.E. officer to meetings. Talk with school officials, coaches, church people, physicians or anyone that might have good information for you.  Become well informed.

If we can stop drug abuse at the experimental stages, we'll be getting at the problem before it gets a grip on our kids.  Know your children’s friends.  Watch your children carefully, their body language will speak louder than what they are verbally telling you. Be careful of allowing your children too much privacy.  Be a parent and not a friend to your child.