Topic: Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco
Target Population: Adolescents
Sector: School-Based, Community-Based
This program is for youth who are 11 to 15 years old.
keepin' it REAL (kiR), a school- or community-based, substance abuse prevention program, is designed to teach students to evaluate dangers, develop resistance skills, and think critically about drug use.
An internal randomized controlled trial was conducted. An increase, over time, in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use was found for control and treatment groups. However, at 2- and 14-months post-program implementation, the increase in alcohol use was less for the treatment group. A smaller increase in tobacco use was found for the treatment group at 8 months post-implementation, but this was not sustained at 14 months. A sleeper effect was found for marijuana use such that differences between the treatment and control groups were not found at 2 or 8 months post-implementation, but effects favoring the treatment group were found at 14 months. In this predominantly Latino sample, results were most consistent for the Mexican American and multicultural versions of this program.
Goals of the kiR program include the following:
The kiR curriculum emphasizes teaching students strategies to resist substance use through the easy-to-remember acronym REAL:
Curriculum topics include: options and choices, risks, communication and conflict, refuse, explain, avoid, leave, norms, dealing with feelings, and support networks. During the weekly lesson, students are given opportunities to role-play and practice the REAL techniques learned. To augment learning, students also watch a series of videos based on personal stories.
kiR is the middle-school component of the previously established D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program.
kiR has been used in schools in 50 states and in Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. The program has also been adapted for use in Mexico and in Kenya.
Optional video conference remote training is available for $800. Please use details in the Contact section for more information.
Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring teacher and administrative support and participant buy-in and making time in the regular classroom curriculum for program lessons.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing kiR, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
The program consists of 10-weekly 45-minute lessons including five videos. In addition, there are 4 optional booster lessons.
The basic set of implementation materials costs $300 for print materials and includes 1 workbook per implementer. Additional workbooks are $50 each, and student workbooks are $7 each. Pre- and post-intervention evaluation surveys are free with the purchase of each program. Please use details in the Contact section for more information.
To move the kiR program to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact REAL Prevention by visiting https://realprevention.org/contact-us/
Hecht, M. L., Graham, J. W., & Elek, E. (2006). The drug resistance strategies intervention: Program effects on substance use. Health Communication, 20(3), 267-276. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327027hc2003_6
Hecht, M. L., Marsiglia, F. F., Elek, E., Wagstaff, D. A., Kulis, S., Dustman, P., & Miller-Day, M. (2003). Culturally grounded substance use prevention: An evaluation of the keepin' it R.E.A.L. curriculum. Prevention Science, 4(4), 233-248. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026016131401
Kulis, S., Marsiglia, F. F., Elek, E., Dustman, P., Wagstaff, D. A., & Hecht, M. L. (2005). Mexican/Mexican american adolescents and keepin' it REAL: An evidence-based substance use prevention program. Children & Schools, 27(3), 133-145. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/27.3.133
Kulis, S., Nieri, T., Yabiku, S., Stromwall, L. K., & Marsiglia, F. F. (2007). Promoting reduced and discontinued substance use among adolescent substance users: Effectiveness of a universal prevention program. Prevention Science, 8(1), 35-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-006-0052-3
Ayers, S. L., Kulis, S. S., Marsiglia, F. F., Campos, A. P., & Medina-Mora, M. E. (2023). Keepin’ it REAL—Mantente REAL in Mexico: Longitudinal examination of youth drug resistance strategies and substance use among early adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 73(3), 412-420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.05.009
Kulis, S. S., Marsiglia, F. F., Cutrín, O., Munyuwiny, S., Huang, C. K., Gresenz, K., & Campos, A. P. (2023). Feasibility, Acceptability and Utility of the Evidence-based “keepin’it REAL” Substance Use Prevention Program for Early Adolescents in Kenyan Schools. African Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 9(1), 41-59.
Marsiglia, F. F., Kulis, S. S., Cutrín, O., Medina-Mora, M. E., Real, T., Nuño-Gutiérrez, B. L., … Alcala-Calvillo, D. (2022). The feasibility, acceptability, and utility of Mantente REAL: The culturally adapted version of keepin’ it REAL for Mexico. Prevention Science, 23(8), 1483-1494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01409-w
Marsiglia, F. F., Kulis, S. S., Munyuwiny, S., Cutrín, O., Gresenz, K., Osir, O., & Huang, C. (2023). A pilot study of an evidence-based prevention intervention (keepin’ it REAL) for early adolescents in Kenyan schools. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 84(1), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.21-00435
Shin, Y. (2021). Narrative engagement and interpersonal communication about substance use on adolescent substance use behaviors: A case study of keepin' it REAL. Western Journal of Communication, 85(3), 427-450. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2020.1846074
