Not On Drugs experiences. They just want a program that works. Hooked On Fishing is active in about 1,000 schools in 36 states, two U.S. territories and Norway. Its credentials include recognition from two U.S. presidents, the American School Board Journal and the U.S. Justice and Interior departments. The program works, its proponents say, because fishing is a fun and powerful teaching tool.
Fishing also provides a forum for adults and kids to communicate.
The survey targeted program implementors, and about 10 percent responded. About 53 percent of survey respondents said that children had not fished prior to exposure to the program, and 63 percent said the children continued to fish after the program ended. About 77 percent of respondents said children showed increased environmental awareness. Researchers at Cornell University and Michigan State University are conducting a formal evaluation of the program to determine its effectiveness in drug prevention. Early reports show similarities to last year's informal survey, Starinchak said.