Project DARE outcome effectiveness revisited

Objectives. We provide an updated meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Project D.A.R.E. in preventing alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among school-aged youths. Methods. We used meta-analytic techniques to create an overall effect size for D.A.R.E. outcome evaluations reported in scientific journals. Results. The overall weighted effect size for the included D.A.R.E. studies was extremely small (correlation coefficient = 0.011; Cohen d = 0.023; 95% confidence interval = -0.04, 0.08) and nonsignificant (z = 0.73, NS). Conclusions. Our study supports previous findings indicating that D.A.R.E. is ineffective.