Multinational Study Examines Community Coalitions as a Method of Addressing Drug-use Consequences
A new study by Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research (CHPPR) researchers will evaluate the role of community coalitions in addressing drug-use consequences. By examining a multinational sample of community coalitions, researchers aim to gain valuable new insights into effective resources for reducing drug demand and its adverse consequences.
Community coalitions are emerging as a promising solution to worldwide drug use and related issues. The global drug problem is a complex issue that intersects with public health, human rights, health equity, and several other factors. By bringing together various organizations and agencies within a community, these coalitions can foster community support and participation to improve the efficacy of drug prevention programs.
Research has demonstrated that community coalitions, particularly with appropriate support and training, such as those provided by the non-profit organization CADCA, can help to prevent substance misuse and achieve other positive results in their communities. However, the majority of this research on community coalitions has only been conducted in high-income countries like the United States. As a result, there is insufficient data on how community coalitions function in developing countries.
This study, “Evaluation of Community Coalitions Addressing Drug Use and Crime: A Multinational Comparison,” led by Louis D. Brown, PhD, aims to address this gap by examining community coalitions from across the world.
“We are excited to identify coalition strategies and contextual factors related to coalition success and sustainability in multiple countries,” said Dr. Brown. “This work can help to provide a drug demand reduction blueprint for other coalitions to follow.”
By reaching out to a global group of coalitions that have previously received funding from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), researchers will:
- Assess the impact of these community coalitions on reducing substance use and its consequences;
- Evaluate the influence of CADCA’s assistance on coalition effectiveness;
- Investigate the sustainability of coalitions.
The research team will conduct in-depth interviews with coalition leadership to assess how coalition membership and processes are affected by community context and external resources such as INL funding. They will also examine the impact of the coalition on local crime and drug use using secondary data such as police records.
Once completed, the study will produce detailed reports on the impact of community coalitions on crime, drug use, and sustainability, as well as recommendations to improve future training and technical assistance for coalitions. These insights will help to advance evidence-based practices to address the world drug problem.