ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF SCHOOL-BASED DRUG-EDUCATION - A 6-YEAR MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS OF PROJECT DARE

A randomized longitudinal field experiment was conducted to estimate t he short- and long-term effects of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.) on students' attitudes, beliefs, social skills, an d drug use behaviors. Students from urban, suburban, and rural schools (N = 1,798) were followed for more than six years, with surveys admin istered each year from 6th through 12th grades. Teachers were also sur veyed annually to measure students' cumulative exposure to supplementa l (post-D.A.R.E) drug education. Multilevel analyses (random-effects o rdinal regression) were conducted on seven waves of posttreatment data . The results indicate that D.A.R.E. had no long-term effects on a wid e range of drug use measures, nor did it show a lasting impact on hypo thesized mediating variables, with one exception. Previously documente d short-term effects had dissipated by the conclusion of the study. So me D.A.R.E.-by-community interactions were observed: Urban and rural s tudents showed some benefits, whereas suburban students experienced sm all but significant increases in drug use after participation in D.A.R .E.