A six-community prevention trial to reduce alcohol and drug use-related problems in Sweden: planning and early findings

The objective of this study was to evaluate a research and development project to reduce alcohol and drug use-related problems, conducted during 2003-2005, in six urban and rural municipalities in Sweden, Umeå, Kramfors, Solna, Kalmar, Laholm, and Lund. The development of alcohol and drug use trends and patterns will be followed through 2008 in the six targeted intervention communities and in the six matched control communities. The evaluation includes archival data, survey data, observational data, as well as process measures. The six communities have gradually reoriented their thinking about prevention from a single focus on youth activities to a broader approach involving the whole population. The project's and the study's limitations are noted and future needed research is suggested.