Approaching alcohol problems through local environmental interventions

One approach for reducing alcohol and other drug problems is community-based prevention programs. These programs focus on changing the environment in which a person consumes alcohol rather than the behavior of the individual drinker. Several international and U.S. programs have assessed the effectiveness of such approaches in reducing alcohol-related problems. Some of those analyses have had inconclusive results. Others, however, found reductions in alcohol-related problems such as drunk driving, alcohol-related car crashes and their consequences, the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers, and assault injuries. Nevertheless, several aspects of community-based prevention programs require further study. KEY WORDS: environmental-level prevention; community-based prevention; program evaluation; prevention outcome; model prevention strategy or program; prevention of problematic alcohol or other drug use (AODU); international differences; survey of research For some chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), community-based preven tion programs have been effective in reducing those problems (Hulley and Fortmann 1981; see also Puska et al. 1985; Maccoby et al. 1977; Jacobs et al