Effects of the Keepin’ it REAL Model Program among Guadalajara, Mexico Middle School Students

• In Event: 043 - Section on Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Drugs: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?

Abstract

This presentation describes the short and long term effects of a Mexico-based study to test the feasibility and efficacy of a linguistically-specific (Spanish version) adapted version of keepin’it REAL, a substance abuse prevention model program. A field trial of Mantente REAL (translated to Spanish) was conducted with middle school students and their teachers in Jalisco to address prevention needs and opportunities in the face of increasing rates of substance abuse among Mexican youth and rapidly narrowing gender differences in use. Prevention interventions have been implemented in Mexico but few have been rigorously evaluated for effectiveness. This study was conducted in partnership with two middle schools (secundarias) in Guadalajara. The schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental conditions. The sample of 431 students reported last 30 day substance use at three times (one pre-test and two post-tests). Factors influencing changes in substance use behaviors over time were examined using growth curve models. Long term desired treatment effects were found for alcohol and marijuana use but not for cigarettes. The intervention effects were greater for girls than for boys in slowing the typical developmental increase over time in alcohol use. These promising findings are discussed from an eco-developmental perspective. Future cultural adaptation efforts are recommended for this efficacious prevention intervention to integrate the unique ecological characteristics of Mexico.

Authors

• Stephen S. Kulis, Arizona State University

• Flavio Marsiglia, Arizona State University

• Stephanie Ayers, Arizona State University