There are
many ways to measure the effectiveness of program. For this question I’m
specifically going to discuss how prevalent the program is, how satisfied
people are with it, and the impact it’s had.
According
to Nation Institute of Justice the primary purposes of all the D.A.R.E.
curricula for students are to teach students to recognize pressures to use
drugs from peers and from the media, teach students the skills to resist peer
inducements to use drugs, enhance students' self-esteem, teach positive
alternatives to substance use, and increase students' interpersonal, communication,
and decision-making skills.
A
study conducted by the Research Triangle Institute covered these three main points.
D.A.R.E has been very successful at placing drug prevention programs in school
systems for elementary, middle, and high schools. 52% of the school districts
nationwide have adopted the program, far higher than competing programs.
User
satisfaction is strong as well as support for the program. According to the
research “The dare program appeals to students irrespective of race. Students
receptivity to D.A.R.E was rated higher than other programs. Not only is
D.A.R.E widespread and popular, but demand for it is high; more than 40% of the
drug use prevention coordinators plan to expand the program, and 21% of those
whose districts do not have the program said they are interest in adopting it.”
As
far as impact goes, it can be difficult to say. According to the study “The meta-analysis
of D.A.R.E.@ programs showed them best at increasing students' knowledge about substance
abuse and enhancing their social skills. The effect of D.A.R.E.@on attitudes toward
drugs, attitudes toward the police, and self-esteem were more modest.” Other
things like use of alcohol and drugs actually decreasing were less
statistically significant. So while the program may be prevalent, and
supported, it’s hard to determine if it’s really prevented minors from abusing
these substances.
Sources:
Lyndsey R.W.
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