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GLANTZ/MANDEL: Since school-based tobacco prevention programs do not work, what should we do? ($$) 

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A systematic review of school-based smoking prevention trials with long-term follow-up 

Conclusions

Few studies have evaluated the long-term impact of school-based smoking prevention programs rigorously. Among the 8 programs that have follow-up data to age 18 or 12th grade, we found little to no evidence of long-term effectiveness.

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• School-based smoking prevention programs ineffective 

Smoking prevention programs in junior high or high school have little influence on whether teens choose to light up or not, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

"Our study shows there is little evidence to suggest that existing school-based smoking prevention programs produce long-term reductions in smoking prevalence among youth," says the study's first author, Sarah Wiehe, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of pediatrics, Division of Children's Health Services Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The researchers reviewed eight randomized, controlled smoking prevention trials with follow-up smoking data through at least 12th grade or age 18. Data from the popular Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program were included in the final analysis.

Seven of the studies, including Project DARE, showed no statistically significant difference in smoking prevalence between students enrolled in school based smoking prevention programs and students not enrolled in this type of program. Only one program, Life Skills Program, had fewer smokers at long-term follow-up than in control schools.

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• Smokeout focuses attention on serious problem 

One of the Defense Department's top doctors said he applauds any servicemember planning to use the American Cancer Society's 28th Great American Smokeout as their springboard to quit smoking.

The Great American Smokeout, which fell on Nov. 18 this year, is the one day a year to really focus on a very serious problem facing servicemembers, said Dr. David N. Tornberg, deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy, in a Nov. 16 Pentagon Channel interview here.

"The health and well-being of our troops ... are of paramount importance to us," he said. "The Great American Smokeout gives that one special day where one significant health risk can be addressed and we can coordinate our activities with the nation at large."

While there are many reasons for the military to want servicemembers who smoke to kick the habit, the most important could be the impact smoking has on readiness.

Tornberg said that on a personal level, smoking reduces an individual's aerobic capacity and consequently, strength, stamina and life expectancy. Smokers also have a higher rate of injury and associated illnesses. That lost time on the job lowers readiness on a departmental level.

An Air Force study revealed some staggering statistics about smoking-related time loss.

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Dinwiddie schools receive a revamped drug education program 

Following a recent request to restore the DARE program at Dinwiddie schools, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday received a report on drug education plans from Dr. Charles Maranzano, acting school superintendent.

Maranzano said the new program will be taught by health and physical education teachers, rather than sheriff's deputies, who taught under the old DARE program.

Maranzano explained that the old DARE program was not viewed as "scientific" as other programs supported by the state and federal government.

"This drug awareness program is called Too Good For Drugs.

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Project D.A.R.E. Outcome Effectiveness Revisited 

Conclusions. Our study supports previous findings indicating that D.A.R.E. is ineffective.

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DARE program to graduate 400 

More than 400 fifth-grade St. Landry Parish students will pledge to lead lives free from drugs and violence over the next two weeks.

They will take that pledge as part of graduation exercises following completing a 12-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

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Police: DARE works in Concord, despite Healey's assertion 

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program is continuing in Concord despite a rethinking by state officials who want quantifiable proof of its effectiveness before funding it.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey recently announced her intent to review the program that is geared to elementary school children.

But Concord Police Chief Len Wetherbee needs no further convincing of DARE's efficacy. . . .

"How do you quantify the connections that are established," Camilleri asked. "When a student comes up to me and said his mom quit smoking after talking about the dangers, how do you measure that with statistics?"

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Healey says she'll hold off on DARE funding 

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey said yesterday she would not recommend resurrecting state funding for the DARE program until a nationwide study is complete several years from now, adding that she would like to see more cooperation between schools and law enforcement in the meantime. . . .

Healey said DARE has provided positive contact between police and schools and reduced teenage smoking. But the administration is more likely to fund tobacco-prevention programs, which have faced budget cuts, she said.

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Horace Mann holds D.A.R.E. graduation 

Sixth-graders at Horace Mann Lab School on the Northwest Missouri State University campus participated in the D.A.R.E. graduation on March 30. The 10-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is sponsored by Maryville Public Safety.

"Maryville Public Safety comes once a week to teach the students how to be strong and say no to drugs," said Linda Heeler, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction and the lab school's fifth- and sixth-grade teacher. "The program builds students' self esteem and helps them to understand the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco."

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Police Say Anti-Drug Tax Shortchanged DARE 

Police in Jackson County say they have been clipped for almost $500,000 from the Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education helps educate students about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. But Independence Police Chief Fred Mills complained Wednesday that he is not getting enough money for the program.

"Why does DARE get cut when we're spending new and extra money on the programs in this report?" Mills asked at Thursday COMBAT Commission meeting.

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Sixth-graders pledge to remain drug and smoke free 

Programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) works with sixth-graders and just completed a program at Breckenridge Middle and St. Mary's schools. About 150 Breckenridge sixth-graders graduated from the program Wednesday afternoon and pledged to remain free of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Officer James Barvels instructed the D.A.R.E program, which was given one day a week for nine weeks.

Children as early as 12-13 years old start using tobacco, then go on to alcohol and at 14 they start using harder drugs such as methamphetamine. Even younger children have been known to use alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

"I believe this program really helps these kids understand the drug problem we have right here in this little town

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All city buildings now smoke-free 

All city buildings have been officially designated smoke-free according to a policy set by the Senatobia Aldermen last week.

The aldermen held their recessed meeting on March 16. Senatobia Mayor Alan Callicott asked the board to make an official policy to declare all city buildings smoke-free effective immediately. The board agreed unanimously that the policy should be set and approved the action.

In other business, the board approved travel for Public Utilities Superintendent Reed Morris to attend two water conferences in Jackson and Natchez in April. They also approved travel for Sgt. Arthur Avant, the city's DARE officer to attend the DARE conference in Philadelphia this summer.

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East Ramapo children consider this quitter a winner 

Police Officer Francis Brooke often urges young people not to smoke cigarettes, but he figured children at three Spring Valley-area elementary schools could learn more about the dangers of getting hooked from someone battling to kick the habit.

That's why Brooke, a DARE officer with the Spring Valley police, shared with his students articles from The Journal News about Stony Point resident Charles Nolan, who is trying to give up smoking after more than 50 years of nicotine addiction.

Fifth-graders at Eldorado and Elmwood, two elementary schools in the East Ramapo district, and at St. Joseph's School, a parochial school in Spring Valley, were so touched by Nolan's efforts to stop smoking that they made cards and wrote notes to the 67-year-old retired engineer, encouraging him to keep up his battle against nicotine.

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Tobacco-free coalition to lobby local governments 

The Price County Tobacco-Free Coalition is ready to take their campaign to city and village governments.

The coalition seeks an ordinance that would forbid smoking in restaurants that do not sell alcohol - in at least one Price County municipality.

The group intends to narrow their efforts to one municipality, which they have not done yet. They also have not given a timetable for when they anticipate a decision will be made.

Members said at their Feb. 5 meeting that they will soon begin lobbying boards and councils to see where an ordinance is likely to pass. . . .

Sheriff's Deputy Laurie Zondlo agreed to join the advocacy effort in her capacity as the county Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer, and tell boards and councils about how second-hand smoke endangers young people.

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