Locally Based System to Monitor ATOD Risk Prevalence

Emerging principles of prevention science support the application of risk-focused strategies for thalcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) abuse. Communities nationwide are currently developing preveprogramming based on the risk focused model. Successful programming depends upon ongoing collectionreliable epidemiological data on risk and protective factors (RPF) and drug use to guide decision macommunity-level measurement of collection of valid and reliable local data is rare. Difficulties inceffective survey instrument that comprehensively measures risk prevalence, and organizational, technsocial/political barriers to routine data collection. This project's goal is development of a standcommunities can implement to routinely monitor ATOD prevalence and the prevalence of RPF. This systeincorporate a school-based survey comprehensively measuring RPF, an administrative support system tocollection of epidemiological data, and development of a data base, statistical and graphical analyssystem, to facilitate prevention planning. The long-term goal is development of a stable local infrasupporting the ongoing monitoring of RPF and drug use prevalence.