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Evaluation of Idaho's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Projects, June 1995

NCJ Number
157236
Author(s)
R K Silva
Date Published
1995
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings and recommendations from 21 DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) evaluation studies in Idaho.
Abstract
DARE is a drug abuse prevention education program designed to equip elementary school children with skills to resist peer pressure to experiment with tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. DARE gives special attention to fifth and sixth grades to prepare students for entry into middle/junior high and high school. The evaluation data collection began in 1991. The procured software is used to collect the raw data from five appraisal and survey instruments adopted from the Federal DARE Implementation Guide. Appraisals were given to school administrators, teachers, parents, and students. The 1994-95 data provided a sufficient quantity sampling for analysis. A monitoring site-visit questionnaire was also developed to add to the survey data collected. Evaluation findings show that DARE is consistently perceived as an excellent substance abuse prevention program by students and adults surveyed. Many studies show DARE's effectiveness in delaying or preventing drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, although some studies do not document the same effects. Only two studies have attempted to document long-term effects. The report recommends that the DARE curriculum continue to expand and reinforce the DARE curriculum in the middle/junior high and high schools and continue working in partnership with other prevention programs. 11 references/resources and appended elementary "core" DARE lesson summaries and the junior high, senior high, and parent curricula