NCJ Number
182896
Date Published
1998
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This report reviews literature on factors relevant to drug prevention in rural areas and presents findings of a qualitative process evaluation and assessment of the initial outcomes of four projects conducted in rural areas in Great Britain over a year starting in the fall of 1996.
Abstract
The four projects are operating in West Somerset, Essex, Castle Donington, and Sussex. The research revealed that drugs are widely available and widely used in rural areas and that the main distinguishing feature related to drug prevention in rural areas is the marked reluctance to acknowledge drug abuse as a problem in these areas. Findings of the evaluation indicated that a broad-based approach that supports and builds on existing community-based work is the most likely way to achieve success. Crucial local players are local councils, the police, the Health Promotion Service, the Youth Service, and local businesses. The local media can also be a powerful ally. Siting services in public buildings and making services available on busy market days may avoid difficulties related to low awareness and expectations of drug agencies among rural residents. Rural drug prevention workers also need support, because they are more likely to feel isolated than are their urban counterparts and are also likely to experience frustration at the slower pace of project development. 83 references