Drug Abuse prevention programs

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

My Superintendent approached me about maybe implementing a Drug Abuse prevention program. Our Health curriculum covers the basic information but we feel that this may not be enough. She wants something that will go a little more indepth... Real Talk, per se.

I have been looking at the D.A.R.E program but am wondering if there is something else to research? Does your school utilize any of the programs?

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

I am not a fan of DARE, unless they have completely revised their curriculum since I last looked into them. They overplay the dangers of drugs, and when students figure out that no, no one is dying from that toke of marijuana, they tend to dismiss all the information they got in the class. I've also heard horror stories of kids being pressured to "tell on" their parents if the kids suspect they are drug users. I don't have any real suggestions, except to look for a program that emphasizes health and autonomy, and gives a realistic discussion of drug use and abuse, including harm reduction (at an age appropriate level of course).

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I'm not a fan of DARE, because it doesn't work, multiple research studies have documented this, that information has been around for along time, and yet lots of public money keeps getting spent on in because the police are behind it.

"Our results confirm the findings of a previous meta-analysis3 indicating that Project D.A.R.E. is ineffective. This is not surprising, given the substantial information developed over the past decade to that effect ... Given the tremendous expenditures in time and money involved with D.A.R.E., it would appear that continued efforts should focus on other techniques and programs that might produce more substantial effects."

Project D.A.R.E. Outcome Effectiveness Revisited

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

[h=3]Substance Abuse Prevention - Youth.gov[/h] has list of evidenced based programs that work.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I don't want to sound cynical, but specific programs don't work. The single best indicator is parental involvement. Plain/ simple. I guess it is high on the feel good scale to do a program, but I just don't think they work. You could see what NAMI offers, they have great school programs.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

Thank you all so much! Your input has been super helpful! Let the research continue... :)

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