CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Environmental Strategies
2. Types of Environmental Approaches
3. Putting Environmental Strategies To Work

Supplements
References
Resources

Environmental Strategies for Prevention
A Guide To Helping the Prevention Professional Work Effectively in the Community

What Are the Barriers To Implementing These Strategies?

Prevention specialists may face some barriers to the implementation of successful environmental strategies:

• Some prevention experts in individual interventions may lack experience with or knowledge of environmental strategies, and as a result, environmental strategies might be implemented less often.
• Communities may lack the training or resources necessary to implement environmental strategies.
• Strong laws at the local, State, and Federal level are only effective if enforcement is adequate.
• Personal biases or prejudices may affect how drunk driving laws are enforced by the courts or police.
• The prevention field is still struggling to determine the best environmental strategies to combat illicit drugs or inappropriately used over-the-counter products or drugs.
• Professionals in prevention may lack the communication skills to effectively engage law enforcement, businesses, or the judiciary in order to find common ground needed for effective collaboration.

After all, if it were easy to create the perfect environment for preventing unhealthy behavior, it would have happened a long time ago. Just look at what society is up against when it comes to drinking and driving:

• Every 30 minutes someone is killed in the United States in an alcohol-related crash. ref
• Alcohol was involved in 41 percent of fatal crashes in 2002. ref
• Impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in the United States. ref
• About one in three adult drinkers in the United States report binge drinking in the past month. ref