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Project DARE: no effects at 10-year follow-up
D R Lynam1, R Milich, R Zimmerman
1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506, USA. DLYNA1@POP.UKY.EDU
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|August 18, 1999
Summary
Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) showed no significant long-term benefits for drug use, attitudes, or self-esteem compared to standard education. The study found no evidence of DARE
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a widely implemented school-based drug prevention program.
- Concerns exist regarding the long-term efficacy of DARE despite its popularity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of Project DARE on drug use, attitudes, and self-esteem 10 years after program completion.
- To compare outcomes between individuals who participated in DARE and those who received a standard drug education curriculum.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking 1,002 individuals from 6th grade to age 20.
- Comparison of drug use, drug attitudes, and self-esteem between DARE participants and a control group.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in actual drug use were found between the DARE and control groups at age 20.
- Attitudes towards drugs and self-esteem levels did not differ significantly between the two groups.
- The DARE program did not demonstrate superior outcomes compared to the standard drug education curriculum.
Conclusions:
- The study provides no evidence supporting the long-term effectiveness of Project DARE in preventing drug abuse or improving related psychological factors.
- The continued popularity of DARE may stem from factors unrelated to its documented efficacy.
