Problem Analysis: The First Step in Prevention Planning

To tackle the problems of student alcohol and other drug abuse and violence, campus administrators—working in conjunction with partners from the surrounding community—need to put in place an integrated set of strategies that address the mix of individual, group, institutional, community, and societal factors that lead to student substance abuse and violence. This type of comprehensive approach—called environmental management—cannot be implemented without using a systematic planning and evaluation process. This publication outlines the first step of that process: problem analysis.