DARE, an acronym for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is an international program designed to educate students (Kindergarten to 12th Grade) about the dangers of drug abuse (unfortunately they make no distinction between 'use' and 'abuse'). It was founded in 1983 and is run by local law enforcement officials. It currently enrolls 36 million students around the world (26 million in the US alone). Students that participate in the program are made to take a pledge promising never to take drugs or join gangs (sic). It popularized the famous slogan 'D.A.R.E to keep kids off drugs'.
In the past years, many studies have been done on the program, finding it to be highly ineffective and sometimes even counterproductive (worse than doing nothing). It is largely government funded.
Wikipedia DARE Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Abuse_Resistance_Education
Alcohol Facts.org Collection of Studies on DARE: http://www.alcoholfacts.org/DARE.html
On the privatization of DARE: http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=664