What was a significant impact of the DARE program?

The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, implemented primarily in schools, was intended to prevent drug use among children and adolescents by educating them about the dangers of drugs and encouraging them to resist peer pressure. However, research has indicated that participation in the DARE program has often been linked to an increase in drug use among non-users or has shown little significant impact on overall drug use rates.

The significant impact associated with the DARE program is that many evaluations have found it did not achieve the intended goal of decreasing drug use in the long term. In certain studies, there has been evidence suggesting that after completing the program, some students showed an increase in drug use compared to their peers who did not go through the program. This outcome has led to controversy and criticism regarding the effectiveness of the program.

On the other hand, the claims of decreased overall drug use or improved community relations lack substantial backing from research findings associated with the DARE program. Additionally, while the DARE program aimed to enhance youth decision-making skills, the evidence supporting this outcome has been mixed, with many evaluations not showing a significant improvement in this area. Therefore, the impact suggesting that it may have led to an increase in drug use among those who were initially non-users aligns with