Is the D.A.R.E Program Effective?

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D.A.R.E is an anti-drug program and it stands for drug, abuse, resistance, education. It was first designed in 1983. This program is offered to fifth grade students in primary school who are of the ages ten and eleven. This program is to inform young children about alcohol and drug abuse. The ongoing question is, are children at the age, old enough to retain this important information and carry it through, into high school, when this knowledge is critical to apply? The D.A.R.E program offers great information, but it also costs a significant amount of money to run the program each year. The children receiving this anti-drug information, are at a young age and do not understand how severe drugs are and how it can impair a person’s judgment. At age 10, children may obtain a basic understanding of drugs and alcohol at the end of this program, but by the time they reach high school, they will not be able apply what they have learned from the D.A.R.E program. D.A.R.E can also have a negative result and counter act the effects of the program. As the program teaches children about drug/alcohol abuse and what kind of effects it has on a person. In the program police officers show children different types of drugs and also tell the children how they are used. This is not a positive learning outcome, for children at this age as they are very curious. It only shows children what drugs are and how to do them. After teens have taken the program, some are curious and try these illegal substances to physically feel what kind of effects it has on them. Teenagers also have a hard time resisting temptation, as they see and hear about how different kinds of drugs and alcohol have effected their peers. Teenagers often seek to be center of attention ... ... middle of paper ... ...he D.A.R.E program if substance abuse is still an issue? The program has positive outreach to young children and teenagers but the rates of substance abuse are not decreasing as planned. This program needs to make changes in how the program is taught or society needs to stop funding the program and put that money to better use. Works Cited American Cancer Society. (2012). Marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternative medicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/marijuana Clayton, RR, AM Cattarello, and BM Johnstone. "The Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (project Dare): 5-Year Follow-Up Results." Preventive Medicine. 25.3 (1996). Print. Health Canada. "Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey". 3 July 2012 < http://hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/drugs-drogues/stat/_2011/summary-sommaire-eng.php>.

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