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

Enforcement

While it's important to have strong policies in the first place, it's not enough to simply advocate for better laws. Policies and laws must also be enforced through surveillance, community policies, and arrests, with appropriate penalties when violations occur.

The impact of enforcement goes beyond the number of investigations and arrests. Using enforcement as an environmental strategy recognizes the fact that the views and attitudes of the general public are strongly influenced by what leaders, including those in law enforcement (from the beat cop to the town sheriff) do and say. Law enforcement officials and other leaders can use their influence to change the beliefs and attitudes of the community about substance abuse.ref

Lack of enforcement can undermine laws with clear standards. In fact, many prevention experts working in environmental prevention stress the fact that many communities are failing to enforce the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws on the books. When MLDA laws are enforced, most citations are against youths rather than the owners of commercial establishments or the adults who are providing the alcohol to young people.