Survey of 6,000 Students in Phoenix, Arizona Found Multicultural Program Reduced Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana Use among 7th And 8th Graders

"Keepin' It REAL" Curriculum Worked in 10 School Districts with Culturally Diverse Student Populations, Changed Adolescents' Drug Use Norms

Thirty percent of middle school kids have tried alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. But many middle schools often have a mix of children from different ethnic groups. Should these schools have to use drug prevention programs that are targeted to each individual group?

According to a study published in the December issue of Prevention Science , middle schools with a mix of Euro American, Mexican American and African American children can use one multicultural curriculum (“Keepin' it REAL”) to help prevent and delay first-time use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. “Keepin' it REAL,” developed by Penn State University and Arizona State University, teaches kids skills to "refuse, explain, avoid and leave," drug use in a way that reflects their traditions, culture and values.

"Schools don't need to use one set of prevention programs for Euro American children, another set for Mexican American children and yet another set for African American children. Our study shows that a program like Keepin' it REAL, which is culturally grounded, can appeal to children of different backgrounds," according to Michael Hecht, PhD, of The Pennsylvania State University. Co-author Flavio Marsiglia, PhD, of Arizona State University said the conclusions of their study were based on a survey of more than 6,000 students conducted from 1997–2001 in 10 school districts in Phoenix that used Keepin' it REAL. "Schools from many parts of the country with multi-ethnic kids are already calling to get the program," according to the study authors.

The project was not only successful in reducing alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use between 7th and 8th graders, but it also influenced adolescents' drug use norms and expectations. Adolescents often think that many of their peers use these substances and that their friends approve when others use them as well. After participating in the Keepin' it REAL program, adolescents did not see as many benefits from substance use, were less approving of substance use, and perceived others, particularly their peers, as less approving.

The researchers said that Keepin' it REAL emphasizes individual values for Euro American children, family solidarity and family values for Mexican American children, and communal values for African American children. The program uses a "from kids, through kids, to kids" approach in the narratives that describe various drug use situations faced by middle school children.

"We started developing Keepin' it REAL by trying to understand not just the different cultures among the kids, but also using some of the protective features of their cultural background. That helped to teach the kids how to say `no' to drugs in a way that reflected and respected their own culture and the culture of other students," according to Hecht.

For more information, contact:

Prabhu Ponkshe
703-918-4930.
Society for Prevention Research
1300 I Street, NW, Suite 250 W
Washington, DC 20005
www.preventionresearch.org