Keepin’ it REAL (kiR) grew out of a National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded project conducted between 1997 and 2001 that examined how adolescents respond to real-life substance offers. Through interviews with hundreds of youth, researchers identified four commonly used resistance strategies - Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave (Hecht et al., 2003). These strategies formed the basis of the “REAL” acronym and became the foundation of this program.
Building on these findings, the kiR intervention was developed to translate these strategies into a culturally responsive, school-based prevention program. The intervention design marked a shift from traditional lecture-based prevention programs to a more youth-centered approach that is rooted in real life social situations and was unlike other substance use prevention strategies of its time.
To evaluate its effectiveness, kiR was tested in a large randomized control trial involving 6,035 students across 35 schools in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Results showed significant reductions in alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, along with improved drug-resistance skills and healthier attitudes toward substance use (Hecht et al., 2003; Kulis et al., 2005).
In 2005, kiR was culturally adapted for Mexican classrooms through a collaboration between Arizona State University and researchers in Mexico, resulting in Mantente Real (MREAL). This version was designed specifically for Latino heritage youth and school contexts, addressing factors such as violence, intimidation, and gender differences that influence how young people navigate substance use offers. The adaptation process also included a feasibility trial of the original kiR curriculum translated into Mexican Spanish, along with newly produced curriculum videos filmed in Mexican cities to ensure cultural relevance.
In 2024, the second edition of kiR was released, incorporating refreshed videos and expanded life-skills content that reflects the evolving substance use trends faced by today’s youth such as vaping and other evolving social pressures. Today, kiR is implemented in schools and community organizations across the United States and internationally.
For more information, please see the foundational articles below.
