NCJ Number
141531
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 283-291
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A study of the impact of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) on fifth grade students in the Long Beach, California, Unified School District suggested that DARE does not significantly change the amount of drug use.
Abstract
About 3,000 students participated in the study, and a pretest and posttest self-report survey was used during the fall 1989 semester for experimental and control groups. Linear regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of DARE on students. When asked what was the most important item learned about drugs or alcohol, DARE students changed their opinions during the study, while control students reported no change. For experimental students, the most important lesson regarding drug abuse involved what it does to the mind. Both experimental and control students reported school-based programs as their major source of information about drugs and alcohol. Substance use of any type and peer pressure to use drugs were rare among the fifth graders. Close family ties and high self-esteem were associated with less willingness to try drugs, and older students were more likely to try drugs than younger students. In addition, minority students had a relatively high tendency to try drugs. DARE was most effective in maintaining current drug use levels. 8 references, 5 tables, and 1 figure