Toward enhancing substance abuse prevention strategies and outcomes, the NW HIDTA has teamed with Development Research and Programs (DRP) in the creation of Community Analyst, a geographic information based system. Community Analyst is a new software program that combines validated archival data, local data and mapping tools to provide detailed maps and precise statistical analyses of the risk and protective factors for substance abuse in neighborhoods, communities and the NW HIDTA region.

Led by Dr. Jack Pollard, DRP is providing the NW HIDTA with a new approach to prevention science by taking a very complex process and turning it into a few simple steps with an application that addresses a wide variety of data collection, data management and analysis problems. Community Analyst not only allows prevention project staff to quickly and inexpensively evaluate the needs or their community, but also gives them the ability to document program implementation, outcomes and efficacy.