By Derek Cornet

Collecting data

CAMP launches survey to gauge local perception about alcohol

Feb 6, 2019 | 4:51 PM

Members of the Lac La Ronge Regional Community Alcohol Management Plan (CAMP) committee want to know if alcohol should be prohibited at youth events like the annual Elks Fair.

It’s one of about 20 questions included in the committee’s winter 2019 survey, which seeks to collect data to be used for the purpose of alcohol management planning. Some of the other questions include whether or not taxi companies should stay open as late as liquor establishments, if liquor vendors should be monitored more closely for compliance with provincial and municipal laws, and if a managed alcohol program, also known as a wet house, should be opened in the tri-communities.

“The third survey was approved by consensus of the CAMP committee and again attempts to gather information on citizens’ perceptions of alcohol-related harm, suggestions for action, and support of pieces of the plan that have either been implemented or are outstanding,” CAMP provided to larongeNOW in a written statement. “The first alcohol management planning survey was administered March to May of 2016 as one consultation tool to gather community input into a five-year community alcohol management plan that was formally endorsed by the village, the town and Lac La Ronge Indian Band June/July 2016.”

In CAMP’s previous survey in 2017, 97 per cent out of 483 respondents believed alcohol was a problem in the tri-communities. Also, 92 per cent wanted taxi companies to stay open as late as bars and 90 per cent indicated liquor establishments should be watched more closely for violations. Another 80 per cent were in support of changing polices or laws related to alcohol.

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The CAMP committee meets quarterly to report on progress and review data to update the plan and its implementation. According to the statement, the data is held by the Northern Alcohol Strategy on the community’s behalf. The data includes survey results and cross-sector quantitative data on alcohol-related harms including emergency room visits, alcohol-related calls for service, workplace engagement, school attendance and more.

“The committee has worked to gather both quantitative data on alcohol-related harms and surveys of citizens once a year,” the statement reads. “Ongoing evaluation of the plan is important to ensure [the] community is engaged in the work. Research indicates positive outcomes or reductions in harm are not sustained without support of communities for evaluation and monitoring.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno