D.A.R.E./Keepin’ It REAL Elementary Curriculum: Substance Use Outcomes

In response to a need to implement an evidence-based prevention program, D.A.R.E. Americaadopted keepin’ it REAL. The program was previously developed and tested in middle schoolsettings. As part of its adoption, an elementary version of the program was developed. This studytests the effectiveness of keepin’ it REAL when delivered to fifth graders. The intervention wasdelivered to two cohorts of students, the first in the 2019–2020 school year, the second in the2020–2021 school year. Pretest surveys were completed by 6,122 students. The COVID-19pandemic interfered with posttest and follow-up data collection. At immediate posttest, 2,049students (33.5%) completed analyzable posttest surveys. One year after the pretest, 1,486 (24.3%)students completed usable follow-up surveys. We used algorithmically generated cases (virtualcontrols) that use treatment cases’ pretest psychosocial scores to assess program effectiveness. When compared to virtual control cases, the program had identifiable improvements in both a key psychosocial measure and in terms of deterring the onset of 30-day alcohol use, drunkenness, andvaping. Outcomes suggest that the delivery of elementary school keepin’ it REAL by D.A.R.E.officers is having a positive effect in terms of deterring the onset of alcohol use and vaping