ABSTRACT
Alcohol and illicit drugs, and the crimes associated with these substances, are a problem in both rural and urban communities. However, the geography and culture of rural America creates specific issues regarding substance abuse and crime. This chapter considers the factors that shape prevention efforts regarding alcohol and other drugs in rural areas with a focus on alcohol, opiates, marijuana and methamphetamine. Alcohol is legal for adults, but it is not legal to drive under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and DUI is a much bigger problem in rural areas than in large cities. The use of illicit drugs is itself illegal, but it can also lead to other forms of crime and, while efforts to prevent domestic production have met with some success, methamphetamine use continues to be a problem. This chapter is accompanied by the perspective of a former police officer who assesses the challenges of policing alcohol- and drug-related crime in rural America.
