August 2007
National Coalition Institute's Research into Action

A Community Systems Approach – Greater and
More Sustainable Impact through Policy

Community coalitions have a great deal to accomplish. Resources are limited and expectations are high for the coalition to impact alcohol- and drug-related problems. Significant information about prevention programs and strategies exists. But, where do coalitions put their energies to have the greatest effect for changing their community? Many researchers offer that for the coalition to be effective, they must understand how community systems affect alcohol and other drug abuse.

A community systems approach influences the community population rather than the individual. It considers the wide range of problem behaviors rather than looking at one problem behavior. Prevention strategies are most effective when focused on the community at large rather than only those at risk. Local policy is an effective means to produce systems changes.

Policy Changes at the Community Level
A number of studies demonstrate that policies developed locally result in reduced alcohol involved injuries and death. Not only do these policies work, but they also are likely to cost less and have a longer life. Prevention programs or media campaigns must be planned, funded and implemented each year, but a locally developed policy establishes the governmental structure to maintain the environmental change.

A substantial scientific evidence of effectiveness exists for policy approaches for alcohol prevention. These approaches are found in environmental strategies such as changing retail sales practices, zoning, training of sales clerks, serving and sales policies of local establishments and enforcement checks.

Click here to learn about researcher Dr. Harold Holder and to read a more detailed summary of Dr. Holder's study of a community systems approach.

Source: Holder, Harold D. (2002). Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Problems at the Community Level: What Research Tells Us. Substance Use and Misuse, Vol. 37, Nos 8-10, pp 901-921.
What Coalitions Can Do www.coalitioninstitute.org
Consider your community as a system. Many local efforts fail to take into account the dynamic systems in which alcohol and other problems
exist. The community is a collection of groups of people who share social, cultural, political and economic aspects of their community.
Ask "Why?" then ask "Why here?" A community is dynamic and complex. It requires thinking about the larger context and systems within a community that affects how people behave.
Focus on the community at large and the policies that will change the context of how people behave. While prevention efforts have historically targeted high-risk individuals, the community systems approach understands that misuse of alcohol and other drugs directly or indirectly affects all citizens in the community. A community systems approach means changing the context in which people behave and understanding that alcohol and other drug use problems are influenced by public policies.
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Research into Action may be copied without permission. Please cite CADCA's National Coalition Institute as the source.
CADCA's National Coalition Institute is federally-funded through a grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy that is administered by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The Institute's mission is to increase the effectiveness of community anti-drug coalitions throughout the nation.