Keepin´it Real

https://real-prevention.com/keepin-it-real/

Initiative Description: Keepin’ it REAL is a school-based adolescent substance use intervention program designed to test the effectiveness of culturally grounded prevention messages and the importance of their match to the ethnicity of program participants. All the components teach cognitive skills, appropriate behaviors, and communication skills for successful use of four “REAL” resistance strategies: refuse, explain, avoid, and leave.

Study Results: Less overall substance use and cannabis use, stronger intentions to refuse substances, greater confidence they could do so, and lower estimates of substance-using peers

Reference: 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

Level of Evidence: Very Good