How Effective Is Drug Abuse Resistance Education? A Meta-Analysis of Project DARE Outcome Evaluations (From Drug Use and Drug Policy, P 60-67, 1997, Marilyn McShane, Frank P. Williams, III, eds. - See NCJ-168395)

• NCJ Number: 168399
• Author(s): S T Ennett; N S Tobler; C L Ringwalt; R L Flewelling
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 91-DD-CX-K053; 5 R01 DA07037
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

Abstract

Project DARE is the most widely used school-based drug use prevention program in the United States, but the findings of rigorous evaluations of its effectiveness have not been considered collectively. This study used meta-analytic techniques to review eight methodologically rigorous DARE evaluations. Weighted effect size means for several short-term outcomes also were compared with means reported for other drug use prevention programs. For all outcomes considered, the DARE effect size means were substantially smaller than those of programs emphasizing social and general competencies and using interactive teaching strategies. The study concludes that DARE's short-term effectiveness for reducing or preventing drug use behavior is small and is less than the effectiveness of interactive prevention programs. An important implication is that DARE could be taking the place of other, more beneficial drug use curricula that adolescents could be receiving. At the same time, expectations concerning the effectiveness of any school-based curriculum, including DARE, in changing adolescent drug use behavior should not be overstated. Tables, figures, references, appendixes