Unfortunately, studies have shown the the programs you mention are actually pretty ineffective in influencing drug-taking behavior. That does not mean that we shouldn't try to do the education piece of violence prevention. It just means that it's important to study what works before launching a big expensive program that won't reduce the target behavior.
In my research, one response still rings in my head. I was speaking with a group of Latina women - women from various parts of Central and South America about how to prevent domestic violence. One woman spoke so eloquently about the need for a program in junior high and high schools (or even elementary) that would deter both boys and girls from engaging in violent relationships, and how to recognize the danger signals, both in themselves and in others. In her mind, she would model it after the D.A.R.E. program popular in United States public schools, in which police and schools team up to keep kids off drugs (and perhaps alcohol). The students, I believe, have to pledge to not take drugs or alcohol, and get a lot of education on the causes and impacts of drug use. If folks are interested, I will attempt to locate the references on the effectiveness of D.A.R.E. Cheryl Soehl ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
