    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8494--APR. 8, 2010

    Proclamation 8494 of April 8, 2010
    National D.A.R.E. Day, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    Every day, young Americans face pressures to engage in violent
    activities, drug use, and other harmful behavior. Today, we reaffirm our
    commitment to empowering our children to resist violence and substance
    abuse.
    Drug dependence affects individuals from all backgrounds, and its
    debilitating effects often go unaddressed. Too many of our families are
    afflicted by addiction, and too many lives are ruined by its harmful
    impact. Drug abuse is not an isolated crime, and communities experience
    the tragic results when drug-related violence and gang activity reach
    our neighborhoods. It takes parents, guardians, educators, clergy, law
    enforcement officers, and other mentors to demonstrate that a healthy
    and drug-free lifestyle can build a strong foundation for future
    success.
    Families must be vigilant in recognizing and addressing the warning
    signs of drug and alcohol abuse. From prescriptions and over-the-counter
    medications to chemical inhalants, many substances can be harmful if
    abused, and preventing our children from doing so is vital. I urge
    friends and loved ones to be role-models and to discuss the consequences
    of drug use with the young people in their lives.
    Community-based prevention and treatment programs can provide young
    Americans with mentors and reinforce positive behavior. Through the Drug
    Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, law enforcement personnel
    contribute their expertise to help teach Amer-

    [[Page 4608]]

    ica's youth to resist peer pressure, and to abstain from drugs, gangs,
    and violence. We all have a responsibility to join these professionals
    in enabling youth to choose alternatives to violence and dangerous
    behavior and to lead the next generation of Americans toward a brighter
    future.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 8, 2010, as
    National D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day
    with appropriate programs and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
    April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
    BARACK OBAMA