Some officials at the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County Inc., in Northern New York, think they may have found a new way to gather information relating alcohol availability to health, criminal and social problems.
The agency along with other community agencies and organizations are using geographic information system mapping to examine the density of alcohol outlets in the north country and compare that data with various social, criminal and health-related trends.
One of the most beneficial aspects of using this technology is that you are able to target and focus interventions. The GIS mapping system will find where hot spots are so that officials will know where increased police patrols are needed because the map will show where there are both a high density of alcohol outlets and high incidences of alcohol-related problems.
To learn more about this study, please view this link: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090624/NEWS03/306249977.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Coordinator, VERTICES, LLC
