Pitt-Bradford Student Presents
Paper at Sociology Conference
William C. Updegrove, a criminal justice major from Bradford at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, presented a paper at the Pennsylvania Sociological Society’s 59th Annual conference held at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
His paper, “A New Approach to Drug Prevention,” involved a critique of the D.A.R. E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and discussion of a social control approach. Dr. Michael Klausner, associate professor of sociology, was his faculty adviser for the paper.
In his paper, Updegrove contended that the D.A. R.E. program, which is widespread and funded by taxpayers, is not effective at preventing drug use and abuse based on data from the FBI. That data indicates an increase in drug use since the D.A.R.E. program has started.
He suggested that the positive elements of the program be combined with a social control program, which would include family members, members of the students’ peer groups and teachers in addition to law enforcement officers all sending the same message about the dangers of drug use.
Updegrove argued that the D.A. R. E. program does not resonate with various youth and subcultural segments of the society and, most important, does not use “peer groups.” He said using peer groups is essential because many studies show that peer groups are the most effective way to reduce drug use.
In addition, the D.A. R. E. program fails to underscore the role that children’s families could play in preventing drug use among children. The importance of additional training and education for the officer’s presenting the new program at schools was also discussed.
His paper, “A New Approach to Drug Prevention,” involved a critique of the D.A.R. E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and discussion of a social control approach. Dr. Michael Klausner, associate professor of sociology, was his faculty adviser for the paper.
In his paper, Updegrove contended that the D.A. R.E. program, which is widespread and funded by taxpayers, is not effective at preventing drug use and abuse based on data from the FBI. That data indicates an increase in drug use since the D.A.R.E. program has started.
He suggested that the positive elements of the program be combined with a social control program, which would include family members, members of the students’ peer groups and teachers in addition to law enforcement officers all sending the same message about the dangers of drug use.
Updegrove argued that the D.A. R. E. program does not resonate with various youth and subcultural segments of the society and, most important, does not use “peer groups.” He said using peer groups is essential because many studies show that peer groups are the most effective way to reduce drug use.
In addition, the D.A. R. E. program fails to underscore the role that children’s families could play in preventing drug use among children. The importance of additional training and education for the officer’s presenting the new program at schools was also discussed.
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