Drug Free Coalition
Coalition History
Organized in the fall of 2003, the Lincoln County Drug Free Coalition has provided a structure for various sectors of the community to bring resources and work together toward a common goal of reducing the use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth and over time among adults. The success of the coalition is an example of Lincoln County’s long history of success in bringing agencies/organizations from an array of public, private and non-profit sectors to address the local needs of youth, families and the community through collaboration.
The Lincoln County Drug Free Coalition was awarded a Drug Free Communities Support Program grant in 2004 and received this grant for five years through September of 2009. During this five year period, the grant funding transitioned from funding individual focused strategies to funding environmental strategies. This transition allowed the coalition to increase our capacity as we shifted from providing programs targeted at reaching individual youth to using an approach to change the overall environment in which young people are making the choice to use or not use alcohol and other drugs. Based on local needs assessments, our initial grant focused on the substances of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and in year 4 and 5 incorporated methamphetamines which were on the rise in Lincoln County. During the past two years, the coalition has received funding through a State of Wisconsin grant through the Department of Health Services. This grant specifically targets lowering underage alcohol consumption through the implementation of environmental strategies.
Coalition Focus
Perhaps the biggest challenge our coalition faces in addressing underage drinking among 12-18 year olds is changing the prevailing attitude that drinking alcohol is the norm and a normal part of adolescence. This attitude is also evident by the perception that to have a successful community event or even a private celebration (high school graduation parties, weddings, etc.) there is a belief alcohol must be served. One only needs to look at local community events held throughout the year or to drive through the county during the fall hunting season to see the numerous blaze orange banners promoting a safe hunt while at the same time enjoying your favorite alcoholic beverages afterwards.
For youth, there is an acceptance by local parents that drinking alcohol is a normal part of adolescence and is to be expected as youth approach their junior and senior years. In a 2011 survey of Merrill and Tomahawk High School parents, they exaggerated the prevalence of actual drinking behavior of adolescents, which continues to promote a community attitude toward adolescent drinking behaviors being the “norm”. In the Merrill survey, 36% of the youth admitted to consuming alcohol in a 30 day period but 83% of the parents believed the typical student was consuming alcohol. Also 5% of the parents allowed their children to attend underage drinking parties, but 76% of the parents thought other parents allowed their children to attend these parties. Likewise, 11% of parents allowed their high school child to drink under adult supervision; however the perception of 68% of the parents was that other parents allowed this. For Tomahawk, 45%% of the youth admitted to consuming alcohol in a 30 day period but 94% of the parents believed the typical student was consuming alcohol. Also 13% of the parents allowed their children to attend underage drinking parties, but 94% of the parents thought other parents allowed their children to attend these parties. Likewise, 15% of parents allowed their high school child to drink under adult supervision; however the perception of 90% of the parents was that other parents allowed this. It is clear, parents in the community believe other parents condone and encourage an adolescent drinking behavior which does not appear to be accurate. In addition, the Social Norms survey results indicate parents are the most believable source of information on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Continuing to believe in these misperceptions may cause parents to share an exaggerated use of alcohol which is counterproductive in stopping these risky behaviors. Believing the misperceptions can also give the community a feeling of hopelessness in addressing youth alcohol use.
Another condition which may contribute to the high use of alcohol among adolescents is the ease of obtaining it. In the 2010 Social Norms survey, of the youth that indicated they drank, 40% of Merrill and 59% of Tomahawk high school students indicated it was easy to very easy to get the alcohol. The top three ways youth obtained alcohol in the past 30 days was from social sources including “a friend who is 21 or older” (10% Merrill and 20% Tomahawk), “a friend who is under 21” (6% Merrill and 15% Tomahawk) and “my mother or father, guardian or step-parent bought it for me/gave it to me” (9% Merrill and 8% Tomahawk). The fact that Wisconsin law makes it legal for parents to take their children into a bar and also legal to serve their children alcohol reinforces the idea consuming alcohol is a normal part of adolescence. In addition, many individuals do not understand the legalities of providing alcohol to other people’s children and the consequences are not always enforced due to local pressures. In a recent news release from SAMHSA, Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. said, “People who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are six times more likely than those who start at age 21 and older to develop alcohol problems. Parents and other adults need to be aware that providing alcohol to children can expose them to an increased risk for alcohol abuse and set them on a path with increased potential for addiction.”
