Student alcohol and other drug abuse and violence (AODV) still reign as the most serious social problems faced by U.S. institutions of higher education. To tackle these problems, campus administrators--working in conjunction with partners from the surrounding community--need to put in place an integrated set of strategies that address the mix of individual, group, institutional, community, and societal factors that lead to student substance abuse and violence. This type of comprehensive approach--called environmental management--cannot be implemented without using a systematic planning and evaluation process. This publication outlines the first step of that process: "problem analysis." This step, often referred to as "needs assessment," is an essential feature of the U.S. Department of Education's principles of effectiveness for AODV prevention programs. Conducting a problem analysis involves: (1) gathering objective data on the nature and scope of the problem at both national and local levels; (2) examining available resources and assets in the campus community; and (3) analyzing and summarizing this information to clarify needs and opportunities. Note that the process outlined here is suitable for both two- and four-year institutions, including both residential and commuter campuses. (Contains 1 table and 3 resources.)