Drug Education Programs Are Inefffective
By Susan Hubenthal
A study published in the Spring 2001 Journal of Drug Education, concluded that the school drug education programs are ineffective. Yet, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and LST (Life Skills Training) are continuing to be funded.
The federal government spends $2 billion annually for research and program support, with the total annual spending nationwide nearly $5 billion. The 1994 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act shot down opportunities for alternative approaches in favor of these educational programs. The defects in DARE were downplayed. The Act failed to live up to its mandate, ?that by the year 2000, all schools in America will be free of drugs and violence.?
The federal government advocates drug education programs that it knows does not work. Claims of effectiveness are based on flawed research, as scientists who make those claims compete to develop profitable programs. Ironically, the same group of researchers often sit on panels evaluating their own work.
The LST program is in place in approximately 3,000 schools and has taught this class to over 800,000 students. DARE (in spite of it?s admitted ineffectiveness) has so far been shoved down the throats of 36 million students, and is still being taught in 80% of the nation?s school districts. Some proponents of the LST program go so far as to say that it could reduce tobacco, marijuana and alcohol use among young people by as much as 75%.
Contrary to the claims of effectiveness of LST, studies have found that students who didn?t complete the entire curriculum had higher drug use rates than those who didn?t participate in the program.
Sadly, more effective alternative programs that have a stronger scientific basis are not being used because of politics, policies, researchers and programs.
It?s is time to demand changes in our drug education programs. There is strong scientific basis in favor of it. If billions of dollars are being spent and we haven?t seen effective results, then we have a problem! A serious problem! DARE has admitted it?s program was ineffective and has vowed to make changes that will improve its performance ? meanwhile the federal government is pouring billions of dollars into a flawed program.
If the drug educational programs aren?t deterring our kids away from drugs, then it is time to demand changes. Billions of dollars could be better spent on programs that teach positive approaches to health and safety issues instead of concentrating on the negative approach currently used that focuses on a kids incapacity to make wise decisions. Why not mentoring and after school programs, and learning how to work more effectively when educating our children about drugs? Why not research to find answers to addiction, vaccines, and antidotes for drug overdoses and harm reduction? Don?t they seem to be a more intelligent, effective way to spend those billions of dollars?
A study published in the Spring 2001 Journal of Drug Education, concluded that the school drug education programs are ineffective. Yet, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and LST (Life Skills Training) are continuing to be funded.
The federal government spends $2 billion annually for research and program support, with the total annual spending nationwide nearly $5 billion. The 1994 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act shot down opportunities for alternative approaches in favor of these educational programs. The defects in DARE were downplayed. The Act failed to live up to its mandate, ?that by the year 2000, all schools in America will be free of drugs and violence.?
The federal government advocates drug education programs that it knows does not work. Claims of effectiveness are based on flawed research, as scientists who make those claims compete to develop profitable programs. Ironically, the same group of researchers often sit on panels evaluating their own work.
The LST program is in place in approximately 3,000 schools and has taught this class to over 800,000 students. DARE (in spite of it?s admitted ineffectiveness) has so far been shoved down the throats of 36 million students, and is still being taught in 80% of the nation?s school districts. Some proponents of the LST program go so far as to say that it could reduce tobacco, marijuana and alcohol use among young people by as much as 75%.
Contrary to the claims of effectiveness of LST, studies have found that students who didn?t complete the entire curriculum had higher drug use rates than those who didn?t participate in the program.
Sadly, more effective alternative programs that have a stronger scientific basis are not being used because of politics, policies, researchers and programs.
It?s is time to demand changes in our drug education programs. There is strong scientific basis in favor of it. If billions of dollars are being spent and we haven?t seen effective results, then we have a problem! A serious problem! DARE has admitted it?s program was ineffective and has vowed to make changes that will improve its performance ? meanwhile the federal government is pouring billions of dollars into a flawed program.
If the drug educational programs aren?t deterring our kids away from drugs, then it is time to demand changes. Billions of dollars could be better spent on programs that teach positive approaches to health and safety issues instead of concentrating on the negative approach currently used that focuses on a kids incapacity to make wise decisions. Why not mentoring and after school programs, and learning how to work more effectively when educating our children about drugs? Why not research to find answers to addiction, vaccines, and antidotes for drug overdoses and harm reduction? Don?t they seem to be a more intelligent, effective way to spend those billions of dollars?
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