D.A.R.E. to Give Up: What to do when a Politically Popular Idea Just Doesn't Work?

The politicians love it and alcohol and drug treatment professionals support it: the D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). The data from this 10 year follow-up of kids in the program compared to those who received a standard drug education curriculum, however, show that the program simply doesn't work.

Researchers Lyman, et al (1999) found NO differences between the two groups in actual drug use, drug attitudes, self-esteem, or on any other measure of successful outcome. The authors suggest that the reason for the continued popularity of the approach in spite of a lack of support is that the program is a "feel-good" approach that everyone can support. In spite of a lack of efficacy, in other words, it seems like something is being done.

Lyman, D.R. et al. (1999). Project DARE. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(4), 590-3.