NCJ Number
195552
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 2000 Pages: 27-40
Date Published
2002
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study explored the long-term effects of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).
Abstract
DARE is a school-based program taught by uniformed police officers to the Nation’s elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. DARE has revised its curriculum to encompass violence prevention and to focus more attention on tobacco. A great deal of money is spent to support DARE. A well-designed study found that the program had no significant short-term effect on adolescent drug use, and a 10-year follow-up of participants found that the program had no long-term effect on drug use. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between Kindergarten through 12th grade participation in the program and subsequent use involvement of a sample of university students. Data were collected by an anonymous survey administered in a random sample of undergraduate classes in a large public university in Ohio. The results of this study support the hypothesis that there would not be substantial differences between DARE and non-DARE participants on measures of substance use. These results are consistent with previous research on the short-term and long-term effects of DARE participation. The data from this study questions the long-term effectiveness of DARE in deterring cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use among undergraduate students. An enormous amount of money is directed to DARE but these resources could be used to disseminate and support evidence-based programs that have shown much more promise in prevention trials. There is a need for research to explore the subtle, long-term outcomes of DARE participation. 2 tables, 30 references