Findings from the evaluation on the effectiveness of Take Charge of Your Life, the new D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program for middle-school students show that no difference was found for any substance used by the students in the past 12 months; no difference was found among the students for past 30 day marijuana use; higher rates of smoking and alcohol use among those student participants not using any substance at the start of the evaluation; and a greater reduction in subsequent marijuana use for those participants who were already using the drug at the start of the evaluation. This evaluation examined the effectiveness of the new middle-school D.A.R.E. program, Take Charge of Your Life. The program was developed after previous studies had indicated that the original program was ineffectual at reducing the risk of future drug use among adolescents. The findings indicate that the new program is no more effective at reducing substance use among adolescents than the original program, and that in fact it may contribute to higher rates of cigarette and alcohol use among adolescents. References