ABSTRACT
This study assessed how parents of fifth-and sixthgrade DARE students felt about the impact and value
two months following their child's participation in
Given the potential support for DARE based on Sample
something other than attention to long-term, empiri-The DARE programs in this study operated within
85 cally demonstrated impact on substance use, it is im-one Midwestern county that contained urban, suburban,
portant that a comprehensive assessment of the pro-140 and small communities of a metropolitan area, with a
gram include identification of elements important to population of about 655,000. During the fall 2002,
various stakeholders who show support for the pro-nearly 3,600 fifth-and sixth-grade students participated
gram. One stakeholder group, police officers and ad-in DARE programs in 54 public and private elementary
90 ministrators, has been found to support DARE as an schools in the county.
