NCJ Number
165292
Date Published
1993
Length
140 pages
Annotation
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) in Colorado Springs, Colo. was evaluated using data from surveys of student participants and nonparticipants during 1989-93, as well as teachers, parents, and school administrators.
Abstract
Approximately 12,000 students from 60 elementary schools in five school districts participated in the survey. In each semester, half the schools received the program and the other half made up the control group. Half the students were surveyed randomly by means of a pretest and a posttest that measured attitudes toward self; others; and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Results revealed that most students already held extremely negative attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs before the program began and that without DARE the 4 months of maturation would have made the students less psychosocially healthy, more in conflict with institutions such as family and the law, and less able to resist peer pressure. The effects of maturation on attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs were inconclusive. Self-concepts of DARE participants became more positive, and feelings of personal control became stronger than those of the controls. An additional posttest 4 months after the program produced similar results. Parents, teachers, and administrators all strongly supported the program and believed that it should be continued. Attached tables and 16 references