Drug Abuse Resistance Education

One of the most debated substance abuse prevention programs in terms of its effectiveness is Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), which began in Los Angeles in 1983. This prevention program, which is now being implemented in nearly 75% of U.S. school districts and employs more than 50,000 trained officers, is grounded in the belief that something can be done about delinquency through educational interventions without focusing attention on social forces contributing to delinquency. Traditionally, the program was designed as an educational prevention strategy targeted at fifth-grade students. Currently, however, the D.A.R.E. program has expanded to include many grade levels as well as parenting classes. The central part of the D.A.R.E. program utilizes uniformed police officers to teach children about drugs and the problems they cause. ...