Goals of community action research include social change and improving knowledge of community dynamics associated with alcohol and other drug problems. The experiential nature of community action projects needs to be examined, not simply to better interpret outcomes but also to develop transferable knowledge. Research and community action are not naturally compatible activities, and community groups may not be interested in prevention projects with a research focus. Because an essential feature of community-oriented research is its collective nature, researchers must be willing to work collaboratively. Debate and dialogue among key interest groups increase awareness about varying perspectives, goals, change models, working hypotheses, and interventions to prevent alcohol and other drug problems. The political climate is likely to be as important to project processes and outcomes as it is to the selection of an intervention, since vested interests may be critical of specific prevention strategies that threaten local business interests. Other critical issues in project success are funding and resources, the research design, and the selection of appropriate interventions. Finally, many issues need to be addressed toward the latter stages of a project, including reporting arrangements, community reaction to research observations and local project outcomes, steps to disengage from a project, and the transfer of project-related expertise to more routine prevention services.