1. Community Perception Survey 2009-2017 Results
La Crosse County
Alcohol
Tobacco
Other Drugs
Mental Health
Other Social Issues
Alcohol
Compiled by Tracy Herlitzke
CESA #4,

2. Methodology
A survey focusing on perceptions of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use in the community was sent in February 2017 to 2,400 random households in La Crosse County.
To increase response rate, a pre-notification postcard was sent a week prior to the survey mailing. Participants could enter a drawing to win gift cards from Valley View Mall or Kwik Trip (5 total) by returning a postcard entry form separate from their survey. A reminder post-card was sent two weeks following survey mailing.
Analysis was conducted on 534 surveys (22% response rate).
Similar surveys were conducted in 2005, 2009, 2012, and Current results are compared to 2009, 2012, and 2014 results.

3. Demographic Information
2009
2012
2014
2017
Survey sample size (response rate)
692 (19.2%)
329 (13.7%)
405 (16.9%)
534 (22.3%)
% Female
66%
59%
51%
70%
Median age
57 years
55 years
62 years
Non-white 6% 1% 2% 3%
% College degree or higher education
34%
47%
49%
52%
Minor in household
31%
25%
22%
La Crosse County
123 (18%)
329 (100%)
405 (100%)
534 (100%)
City of La Crosse
55%
48%
City of Onalaska
21%
Other
24%
30%

4. Perception of Problem-Binge Drinking

5. Perception of Problem-Tobacco Use

6. Perception of Problem- Other Tobacco Products

7. Perception of Problem-Marijuana
*2014 & 2017-Young Adults and Adults Combined

8. Perception of Problem- Prescription Drug Abuse
*In 2009, question was formatted differently, therefore not reported

9. Perception of Problem-Illegal Drugs

10. Perception of Problem-Bullying

11. Perception of Problem-Depression

12. Perception of Problem-Suicide

13. Perception of Problem-Mental Health Service Availability

14. Level of Support for Alcohol Consumption in the Community
% Agree or Strongly Agree it is acceptable for:
2009
2012
2014
2017
Occasional drinking by teenagers
11% 8%
Binge drinking by teenagers 2% 3%
n/a
Teenagers to drink if they don’t drive afterwards 4% 5% 6%
Occasional drinking by year olds
46%
38%
42%
45%
Any binge drinking of year olds 7%
18-20 year olds to drink if they don’t drive afterwards
30%
25%
27%
26%
Adults to binge drink if they don’t drive afterwards
14%
16%
15%
Community member’s acceptability of teenagers drinking is very low in general, between 5% and 11% in Occasional and binge drinking of young adults (age 18-20) is more acceptable to community members than teenagers (ranging from 26 to 45%). This acceptability has increased from the survey in 2012 after an initial decline. Community members in general agreed that binge drinking is more acceptable if people don’t drive afterwards.

15. Level of Support for Parents Supplying Alcohol to Minors
% Agree or Strongly Agree it is acceptable for:
2009
2012
2014
2017
Parents to offer alcohol to a non-relative teenager 1% 2%
Parents to offer alcohol to their own teenager
23%
18%
21%
20%
Parents to offer alcohol to their own year old
31%
27%
29%
25%
Respondents were generally more supportive of parents offering alcohol to year-old adults than they were to those younger than 18 (their own children or other children. Most respondents indicate that it is NOT okay for parents to offer other teenagers alcohol. Overall support for parents supplying alcohol to minors has decreased from 2009 to 2017 (indicating less support for parents supplying alcohol to those not of drinking age.)

16. Parents Who Host Lose the Most

17. Community Support for Alcohol Regulation and Law Enforcement
 % Mostly or Completely Supportive
2009
2012
2014
2017
Law Enforcement and Legal Action
Conducting retailer compliance checks for alcohol to prevent the sale of alcohol to teenagers and young adults
94%
89%
87%
92%
Increasing the penalties for adults hosting an underage drinking party (social host ordinance)
n/a
88%
78%
83%
Enforcing the minimum drinking age of 21 years
90%
81%
80%
Increasing the penalties on drinking and driving
74%
Alcohol Regulation
Increasing taxes on alcohol
51%
55%
38%
49%
Increasing the cost of alcohol license fees if the money went to prevention and treatment
53%
46%
More regulation on how alcohol is served at community festivals
59%
52%
More regulation on how alcohol is served at bars/restaurants
Eliminating all-you-can-drink specials at bars/restaurants
69%
65%
70%
More regulation on the number or location of alcohol licenses
43%
48%
A community committee to review alcohol license conditions and renewals
47%
50%
56%
Limits on alcohol advertising (billboards, radio, etc.)
63%

18. Support for Alcohol Policies by Respondents Residence, 2017
La Crosse city residents responded differently in their level of support to three of the policies compared to residents from the other communities. La Crosse residents were more supportive of a community committee to review alcohol license conditions, eliminating all-you-can-drink specials, and for limiting alcohol advertising. Residents of La Crosse and Onalaska were more supportive of increasing the penalties for hosting underage drinking parties than respondents outside these two communities.

19. Support for Tobacco Strategies, 2017

20. Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2017

21. Support for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Strategies, 2017

22. Community Perceptions of Mental Health, 2017

23. 142 Participant Comments
“Make campaigns to educate communities about mental health and try to eliminate stigma.”
Theme
Comments
Survey feedback 49
Solutions 28
Treatment services/resources 17
Personal story 15
Alcohol (age, burden, consequences) 13
Alcohol culture in WI 11
Marijuana 9
Laws 7
Mental health
Drunk/distracted driving 5
Illicit drug use
Bullying 4
Parenting/family unit 3
Tobacco
Other
“I think a lot of the acceptable use of binge drinking and drugs/alcohol is due to undiagnosed mental illness. Provide good mental health and the drinking and drugs will reduce along with crime.”
“As a bartender, I know all too well how pervasive is the regular/daily drinking culture in this area.”
“There is a serious issue in the area with and excessive amount of places that serve alcohol.”