Environmental approaches to substance use prevention currently rely on a behaviorist paradigm. By contrast, this article highlights the role of subjective meaning-making and outlines three mediating steps between physical environment and situated substance use outcomes: perceived space (construal of manifest aspects); interpreted space (construal of latent aspects); and momentary thoughts and feelings. The theory is illustrated using three pathways in smoking ban contexts. The findings can inform intervention design and research into contextual factors of substance use.