[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-

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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