Keepin’ it REAL / Mantente REAL - Multi-site Feasibility Study (Guadalajara, Jalisco; Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Mexico City)

The multisite feasibility study is testing Mantente REAL, the Jalisco-Mexican version of keepin’ it REAL (KiR)* through a randomized controlled trial with 1,800 seventh grade students in 18 middle schools (six from each city) in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. The project is a collaboration of Arizona State University, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), the Institute for Attention & Prevention of Addictions (IAPA-DF), the National Psychiatric Institute of Mexico and the Universidad de Monterrey. Keepin’ it REAL (KiR) is a culturally grounded, evidence-based substance use prevention program for middle school youth developed by SIRC, licensed by ASU, and distributed commercially by ETR (http://www.etr.org/). 

KiR is a National Model Program, part of the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Keepin’ it REAL is effective in delaying and reducing adolescent substance use by influencing their drug use related knowledge, norms, and drug resistance skills in a culturally competent manner. Delivered by teachers in middle school classrooms, this 10-week program teaches the REAL drug resistance strategies – Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave.