Which campaign is cited as an example of having effects but no effectiveness?

The campaign often cited as having effects but no effectiveness is DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Though DARE aimed to educate young people about the dangers of drug use and attempted to reduce drug-related problems among youth, research has shown that it did not lead to measurable reductions in drug abuse or related issues. In fact, studies have indicated that participants in DARE programs were not significantly less likely to use drugs compared to their peers who did not participate.

This distinction is important in public communication campaigns, as it highlights that while a campaign may have outreach effects—such as increased awareness or positive attitudes toward abstaining from drugs—it may fail to translate those effects into effective behavioral change. Other campaigns like Freedom to Choose, Just Say No, and the Truth Campaign may have had varying degrees of effectiveness, be it positive or negative in their impact on substance use behavior.

Understanding this concept helps students grasp how the success of a public communication campaign is not solely determined by its reach or activity, but by its actual outcomes in changing behaviors and producing tangible results.