@article{243ecbcc42f941ac947eac05c836ff65,
title = "Implications of systems dynamic models and control theory for environmental approaches to the prevention of alcohol- and other drug use-related problems",
abstract = "The approach described in this article is premised on the idea that drug and alcohol use-related problems are heterogeneously distributed with respect to population and geography, and therefore, are essentially local problems. More specifically, it is argued that viewing a local community as an interacting set of systems that support or buffer the occurrence of specific substance misuse outcomes, opens up to research two important prospects. The first of these involves creating adequate systems models that can capture the primary community structures and relationships that support public health problems such as alcohol and drug misuse and related outcomes. The second entails rationally testing control strategies that have the potential to moderate or reduce these problems. Understanding and controlling complex dynamic systems models nowadays pervades all scientific disciplines, and it is to research in areas such as biology, ecology, engineering, computer sciences, and mathematics that researchers in the field of addictions must turn to in order to better study the complexity that confronts them as they try to understand and prevent problems resulting from alcohol and drug use and misuse. Here we set out what such a systems-based understanding of alcohol- and drug use-related problems will require and discuss its implications for public policy and prevention programming.",
keywords = "Alcohol, Complexity, Control theory, Drugs, Environmental intervention, Systems dynamic models",
author = "Gorman, {D. M.} and Gruenewald, {P. J.} and Hanlon, {P. J.} and Igor Mezic and Waller, {Lance A.} and Carlos Castillo-Chavez and Elizabeth Bradley and Jadranka Mezic",
note = "Funding Information: This article developed out of a meeting on Ecological Modeling of Alcohol-Related Behavior sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Berkeley, CA, October 11–12, 2002). We would also like to acknowledge grant support of the Smith Richardson Foundation, Inc. (SRF 2001-1515) (DMG) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P60-AA06282, R37-AA12927) (PJG), and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation for travel support to present a version of this article at the Geographic and Small Area Analysis Satellite Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism{\textquoteright}s 26th Annual Conference (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June 21, 2003) (DMG). Funding Information: Elizabeth Bradley, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research interests include nonlinear dynamics, control theory, scientific computation, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bradley is a member of the external faculty of the Santa Fe Institute and the recipient of a National Young Investigator award, a Packard Fellowship, and the 1999 University of Colorado College of Engineering {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}innovation in teaching{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} award. Elizabeth Bradley received the S.B., S.M., and doctorate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983, 1986, and 1992, respectively, in Engineering, including a one-year leave of absence to compete in the 1988 Olympic Games.",
year = "2004",
doi = "10.1081/JA-200033215",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "39",
pages = "1713--1750",
journal = "Substance Use and Misuse",
issn = "1082-6084",
publisher = "Informa Healthcare",
number = "10-12",
}