Analysis of DARE

A series of articles about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in
schools

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Links to Other DARE Pages

The following two links are highly recommended for additional information on
DARE.

DRCNet DARE Page

Official DARE sites on the Internet
Note to the reader: If anyone finds any actual research on the effectiveness of DARE at any of these sites, please send a note to schaffer@smartlink.net

Does DARE work?

No. All the major research on the effectiveness of DARE shows that it has no impact on the rate of drug use by children who go through DARE training.
These reports include:

* 1991 Kentucky study - National Institute on Drug Abuse - "No
statistically significant differences"
* 1990 Canadian Government study "DARE had no significant effect on the
use of...marijuana, acid, heroin, crack, glue and PCP"
* 1993 Research Triangle Institute - National Institute of Justice -
Statistical analysis of all DARE research, which says DARE has "a
limited to essentially non-existent effect" on drug use.
* The final edition of the largest evaluation of the DARE program has
concluded that the Anti-Drug program does not reduce drug use, and in
at least category of pot, the DARE graduates smoked more frequently
than the control. The report concluded: "The DARE program's limited
effect on adolescent drug use contrasts with the program's popularity
and prevalence. An important implication is that DARE could be taking
the place of other, more beneficial drug education programs that kids
could be receiving"How Effective is DARE, American Journal of Public
Health Sept 1994 p1399

Among the notable quotations from researchers: * "Its well established that DARE doesn't work" Gilbert Botvin - Cornell Medical Center * "Research shows that, no, DARE hasn't been effective in reducing drug use" William Modzeleski, Top Drug education official at the Department of Education

* "I think the program should be entirely scrapped and redeveloped anew." Dr. William Hansen, who helped design the original DARE

And the DARE defenders -

* Glenn Levant, executive director of DARE, called studies flawed, and suggested that we need to study the problem for the next seven years.
He then said "We're like apple pie".
* "..surveys across the nation show kids who take the DARE course are
much less likely to use drugs". Mike Muiller, police officer and DARE
instructor, who may have unwittingly shown why DARE is failing.
* Michael Milken, famous junk bond king found guilty of securities fraud,
was among the "noted" volunteers who show young kids how to live.