Long-term Evaluation of Drug Abuse Resistance Education

• NCJ Number: 253620
• Journal: Addictive Behaviors Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: 1994 Pages: 113-125
• Author(s): Susan T. Ennett; Dennis P. Rosenbaum; Robert L. Flewelling; G. S. Bieler; C. L Ringwalt; S. L. Bailey
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CrimeSolutions Program ID #99

Annotation

This article reports on a longitudinal evaluation of the impact of project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in 36 Illinois schools.

Abstract

Project DARE is the most prevalent school-based drug-use prevention program in the United States; however, there is little evidence of its effectiveness. The longitudinal evaluation of DARE in the 36 Illinois schools provided only limited support for DARE's impact on students' drug use immediately following the intervention, and no support was found for either a continuing or emerging impact on participants' drug use 1 or 2 years after receiving DARE instruction. In addition, DARE had only limited positive effects on psychological variables (i.e., self-esteem) and no effect on social variables (e.g., peer resistance skills). Possible substantive and methodological explanations for the relative lack of DARE's effectiveness observed in this study are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)