Conduct an Environmental Scan

Why should a community consider an environmental scan?

Think of an environmental scan as taking the temperature of an area on an issue. A properly done environmental scan, done through systematic surveys, will produce relevant information that can be used to identify opportunities and problems. Here are several examples of environmental scans that have focused on alcohol issues. 

  • Information from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) at  that focuses on doing an environmental scan for alcohol and other drug problems.
  • Information in the Florida Substance Abuse Response Guide helps that state's communities change the underlying conditions that can lead to illegal, illicit drug use, abuse and misuse, alcohol abuse patterns, and related consequences.
  • Rural areas can also do environmental scans. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences did a scan that looked at overall health in North Dakota, and a section of the report addresses alcohol and substance abuse. Follow this link.