Results of First National D.A.R.E. Graduate Survey Announced at 12th Annual NDOA Conference; Gen. Barry McCaffrey Delivers Keynote to 5,000 Attending Officers.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1999--

At this morning's opening ceremonies of the 12th Annual NDOA (National DARE Officers Association) Conference, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, in his official capacity as director of the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, inspired officers to make a difference in the future of young people.

McCaffrey praised D.A.R.E. as a program, which effectively helps children resist pressure to use tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs, to join gangs and to participate in violence. Along with local and national dignitaries, 5,000 uniformed D.A.R.E. police officers from the United States and many other foreign countries were in attendance at the D.A.R.E. Conference at the Washington Convention Center, July 8-10.

A just-released survey, titled "The Lessons of D.A.R.E. Across the Nation," was spotlighted by D.A.R.E. America President and Founding Director Glenn Levant. The study -- undertaken by California State University, Long Beach under the lead of Katherine Van Giffen, Ph.D., who attended the opening ceremony -- represents the first national survey of the effectiveness of D.A.R.E., according to graduates of the program.

Conducted over a 16-month period with participants from all 50 states, the survey demonstrated that students who have gone through the program rate it highly (an average of 9.59 out of 10) and admire, respect and trust their D.A.R.E. officers. They recognize their officers' knowledge and expertise, and feel comfortable approaching them with questions and concerns.

Levant stated: "In addition to the Cal State, Long Beach survey, the effectiveness of D.A.R.E. has also been recently confirmed in three independent statewide studies. Evaluations in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania have shown positive and long-term results when sequential delivery and reinforcement of D.A.R.E. is provided to students in kindergarten through 12th grades."

Among the latest survey results:

--   This study revealed that the students learned the consequences of
     using illegal substances. They learned that there were health and
     legal consequences as well as other problems such as potential
     addiction, getting into trouble and social problems.

--   Two-thirds of the D.A.R.E. students reported that the D.A.R.E.
     homework assignments led them to discuss drug issues with their
     parents.

--   Approximately 75% of the students reported that they had
     experienced peer pressure of some sort to use tobacco, alcohol or
     drugs. Of those who resisted and recalled what they had done to
     resist, 52% said they learned the technique from D.A.R.E.

--   When students were asked when they personally decided to use or
     not use drugs and who influenced their decision, the average age
     was 10, or fifth grade, a common time for the elementary school
     D.A.R.E. curriculum to be taught. All indicated their decision
     not to be involved with illegal substances, with 95% stating that
     their local D.A.R.E. program had influenced their decision.
     Parents were reported to be the greatest influence on their
     decision not to use illegal substances, followed by their
     D.A.R.E. officer and, to a much lesser extent, friends.
     Similarly, while approximately half the students listed their
     parents as preferred confidants with whom they could discuss
     illegal substances, D.A.R.E. officers were three times more
     likely to be approached than their own teachers.

--   On a scale from 0 to 10, students ranked the importance of
     bringing D.A.R.E. into all schools, on the average, as 9.59. In
     offering their comments in support of the program, it was clear
     that for some students, D.A.R.E. was the only education they
     received on any aspect of drugs and drug use. For others, it
     reinforced the values they learned at home.

Founded in 1983, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is an officer-led, in-classroom, anti-drug, anti-violence education program for school children in grades K-12. Its mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug-free and violence-free. Taught in 300,000 classrooms across more than 10,000 communities in the United States and 48 countries, D.A.R.E. will reach more than 35 million school children this year alone.