Case Studies of Community Anti-Drug Efforts, Research in Brief

This publication discusses the results of a literature search and 13 on-site case studies and contains summaries of the case studies. Results reveal evidence of widespread grassroots community responses to illicit drugs. A wide variety of citizen initiatives show how the groups assume different levels of responsibility, function within social networks, and are influenced by various leaders. The researchers recommend that citizens be encouraged and helped to address drug problems from a perspective broader than that of drugs alone. They also encourage partnerships involving citizens, police, and other agencies. Since no one approach can be considered the best, the authors recommend that research continue to identify approaches that work best under specific conditions and in various neighborhood settings. Notes