3.2  Conduct a Community Substance Abuse Needs Assessment

In Step Two of this tutorial, we provided information regarding assessing community risk factors, community protective factors and resources, and the community’s readiness to support a prevention effort. The purpose of this section is to provide a bridge between the previous assessment processes and conducting a formal needs assessment. It is a reminder to ensure that assessments are prioritized and completed prior to further programming. As described, these include several methods, and as we have mentioned, we recommend using experienced researchers to conduct these assessments.

Archival Data Collection. As described in Step Two of this tutorial, there are numerous existing or archival data that can help to define the extent, nature, and location of substance use problems. Existing social indicator data from prior household, school, business, and community surveys or agency records can be found in several forms: census data, agency annual reports, social and health statistical records, police records, and education system records, as well as social service, health, and mental health agency records.

Original Data Collection. Original research can be conducted through focus groups, needs assessment surveys, community attitudes and opinion surveys, key leader surveys, and print media assessments. These can provide a wealth of information about the perceptions residents have about the substance use problem, the existence of unreported or undetected users, the social context of the problem, and how residents think about the problem and whether they believe that the problem could be solved. The Resource Library provides several practical tools to help you conduct (1) focus groups, (2) needs assessment surveys, (3) community attitudes and opinions surveys, (4) key leader surveys, and (5) print media assessments.

Geographic Mapping. Since programs may want to use multiple sources of data, they may want to consider mapping data by geographic location. Geographic mapping makes correlation of data from multiple sources considerably easier and puts the resulting compiled data in a format most likely to be effective in community advocacy efforts. Geographic mapping allows programs to pinpoint specific areas in their communities that have especially significant levels of risk factors and that require targeted prevention efforts. The Resource Library provides several practical tools to explain geographic mapping, recommendations about conducting geographic mapping, and tips on obtaining geographical mapping data.