Certified Prevention Specialist CPS Practice Exam

The correct answer is the environment. In the public health model, the "agent" refers to the factor that causes the health problem (such as alcohol or drugs), the "host" represents the individual who may be affected by the agent (such as a person who uses substances), and the environment encompasses the broader context in which these interactions occur. The environment includes social, economic, and physical factors that can influence both the availability of the agent and the susceptibility of the host.

Understanding this context is essential in AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) planning, as interventions can be tailored to modify the environmental factors that contribute to substance use. By addressing these environmental influences, prevention specialists can create healthier communities and reduce risks associated with alcohol and other drugs more effectively.

Other elements like internal assets, the host, and norms play significant roles too, but they do not capture the comprehensive context in which interactions take place between the agent and host as effectively as the environment does.