Effectiveness of Drug Education in Schools
Since the early 1970s, a multitude of programs have sought to educate children as young as elementary school about the dangers of drug abuse. The programs range from incorporating drug education into a school's health curriculum to national drug prevention efforts, such as the popular Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program. Many drug education programs have proven to be popular, but they have a mixed record in keeping young people away from drug use.
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Measures of Effectiveness
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There are generally three ways to measure the effectiveness of drug education programs: student knowledge about drugs, student attitudes about drug use, and the adoption of better behaviors regarding substance abuse. Most studies of drug education programs in elementary and secondary schools have focused on one or more of these measures.
Effects
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In general, studies of drug education programs have found that these programs are most effective in increasing student knowledge about drugs and the dangers associated with drug and alcohol abuse. However, the improved knowledge does not always translate to better attitudes and behaviors regarding substance abuse.
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Benefits
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Most evaluations of drug education programs have identified several characteristics of effective programs. The most effective programs begin instruction early in children's lives and is continuous. Programs that span multiple grade levels and are part of comprehensive health education are more effective than short-term programs or presentations. Studies also have found that teachers play a critical role in successful drug education programs. In addition, community support and involvement by parents contribute to program effectiveness.
DARE: Popular, But Ineffective
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Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is the most widely used drug education program in the United States. The Los Angeles Police Department began the program, which has since spread across the country. The program brings police officers into classrooms to teach about drug resistance and awareness, as well as related issues. DARE is a popular program, but multiple studies have found that it has only short-term effects on drug use by adolescents. Consistent with other research on drug education programs, evaluations of DARE found the program is more effective at improving attitudes and knowledge. However, most studies found that DARE"s positive effects diminish over time as students grow older.
The U.S. Department of Education prohibits public schools from spending federal education funds on DARE because of repeated studies that find the program to be ineffective.
Considerations
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A meta-analysis of eight studies on the effectiveness of the DARE program found that the program is less effective than other drug education or prevention efforts. Noting DARE's popularity, researchers expressed concern that it could be displacing other, more effective drug education programs.
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