Drug Education Programs Fail in Houston.

DRUG abuse prevention; GAY, Bruce; PUBLIC schools; SCHOOL children

HOUSTON (Tex.); TEXAS

This article reports on the failure of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in schools in Houston, Texas, according to a study conducted by Bruce Gay of University of Houston-Downtown. Using pre-test and post-test questionnaires of 1,771 fifth grade students in 23 Houston public schools, Gay found that students increased their drug, tobacco and alcohol usage despite D.A.R.E. program instruction. The survey also revealed that a significant number of fifth-graders, many of whom are 12-year-olds, were experimenting with controlled substances even before the intervention program began. The study found that 15 percent of students had tried drugs before the program began, 18 percent had tried tobacco and 32 percent had experimented with alcohol. Eleven of the 21 Houston schools participating in the study reported 72 percent of the substance abuse among students. The data suggest that the Houston Police Department might also consider targeting selected schools and students most at risk, Gay said.