A Multivariate Approach to a Meta-Analytic Review of the Effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. Program

Abstract

Abstract:The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is a widespread but controversial school-based drug prevention program in the United States as well as in many other countries. The present multivariate meta-analysis reviewed 20 studies that assessed the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program in the United States. The results showed that the effects of the D.A.R.E. program on drug use did not vary across the studies with a less than small overall effect while the effects on psychosocial behavior varied with still a less than small overall effect. In addition, the characteristics of the studies significantly explained the variation of the heterogeneous effects on psychosocial behavior, which provides empirical evidence for improving the school-based drug prevention program.

Harm Reduction Treatment Interventions for Rural Methamphetamine Abuse

“…is taught by trained law enforcement and is meant to teach drug abuse resistance education, exactly what the acronym states. The curriculum includes 17 lessons, each lasting 45 min to 1 h at 1 week intervals, intended to teach students how to recognize and resist to social pressures to resist drugs [19].…”

“…has been shown to be effective in the short term in children in their late adolescents, but has not shown long-term effectiveness for individuals when compared to a control (a group of students who did not receive D.A.R.E. or who received another interactive prevention/education program) [19]. The…”

“…When participants were asked about what was learned, individuals recall the officers showing them every ingredient to make methamphetamine and how to manufacture it and just saying no [19].…”

“…was a program facilitated in some grade schools to help educate adolescents about the dangers of drug use and how to say no [19]. It should be noted that D.A.R.E.…”

Use of Evidence in the Implementation of Social Programs: A Qualitative Study from Chile

“…Other popular and costly programs may run for years without an impact of practical relevance (Pan & Bai, 2009). It has been proposed that developing and offering social interventions that are based on the best available research evidence should be considered as a contemporary ethical imperative (Buchanan, 2009).…”