Substance Use Needs Assessment - Mercer County 2026

Thank you for taking time to answer the following questions designed to help the Mercer County Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services assess and improve substance use services throughout our county.

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1. Have you utilized any services in Mercer County to address substance use? (Required.)

Yes

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2. If you answered yes to the question above, please rate the satisfaction of your experience overall.

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3. What substance(s) do you use?

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4. If applicable, at what age did you first start using substances?

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5. Do you believe there are barriers to accessing substance use care in Mercer County? (Required.)

Yes

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6. If you answered yes to the previous question, please check the box that best describes these possible barriers.

	Not a barrier	Sometimes a barrier	Often a barrier
Cost	Cost Not a barrier	Cost Sometimes a barrier	Cost Often a barrier
Cultural awareness/sensitivity	Cultural awareness/sensitivity Not a barrier	Cultural awareness/sensitivity Sometimes a barrier	Cultural awareness/sensitivity Often a barrier
Insurance coverage	Insurance coverage Not a barrier	Insurance coverage Sometimes a barrier	Insurance coverage Often a barrier
Transportation	Transportation Not a barrier	Transportation Sometimes a barrier	Transportation Often a barrier
Language	Language Not a barrier	Language Sometimes a barrier	Language Often a barrier
Hours of operation	Hours of operation Not a barrier	Hours of operation Sometimes a barrier	Hours of operation Often a barrier
Wait lists	Wait lists Not a barrier	Wait lists Sometimes a barrier	Wait lists Often a barrier
Involvement in the criminal justice system	Involvement in the criminal justice system Not a barrier	Involvement in the criminal justice system Sometimes a barrier	Involvement in the criminal justice system Often a barrier
Homelessness	Homelessness Not a barrier	Homelessness Sometimes a barrier	Homelessness Often a barrier
Availability of dual diagnosis treatment	Availability of dual diagnosis treatment Not a barrier	Availability of dual diagnosis treatment Sometimes a barrier	Availability of dual diagnosis treatment Often a barrier
Racial discrimination, and/or prejudice	Racial discrimination, and/or prejudice Not a barrier	Racial discrimination, and/or prejudice Sometimes a barrier	Racial discrimination, and/or prejudice Often a barrier
Refusal of providers to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients	Refusal of providers to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients Not a barrier	Refusal of providers to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients Sometimes a barrier	Refusal of providers to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients Often a barrier
Sexual orientation/gender identity	Sexual orientation/gender identity Not a barrier	Sexual orientation/gender identity Sometimes a barrier	Sexual orientation/gender identity Often a barrier
Stigma	Stigma Not a barrier	Stigma Sometimes a barrier	Stigma Often a barrier

Other (please specify)

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7. Please rate your substance use on a scale of 1 to 10 using the slider below, with 1 indicating low use of substances and 10 indicating high use. (Required.)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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8. Are there aspects of your daily life that make it harder to manage your substance use? (Required.)

Yes

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9. If you answered yes to the previous question, how would you describe your difficulty managing any of the following?

	Not difficult	Somewhat difficult but manageable	Difficult
Finances	Finances Not difficult	Finances Somewhat difficult but manageable	Finances Difficult
Self-care	Self-care Not difficult	Self-care Somewhat difficult but manageable	Self-care Difficult
Parenting or caregiving responsibilities	Parenting or caregiving responsibilities Not difficult	Parenting or caregiving responsibilities Somewhat difficult but manageable	Parenting or caregiving responsibilities Difficult
Personal loss or grief	Personal loss or grief Not difficult	Personal loss or grief Somewhat difficult but manageable	Personal loss or grief Difficult
Physical health	Physical health Not difficult	Physical health Somewhat difficult but manageable	Physical health Difficult
Personal relationships	Personal relationships Not difficult	Personal relationships Somewhat difficult but manageable	Personal relationships Difficult
Social isolation or loneliness	Social isolation or loneliness Not difficult	Social isolation or loneliness Somewhat difficult but manageable	Social isolation or loneliness Difficult
Work or school-related stress	Work or school-related stress Not difficult	Work or school-related stress Somewhat difficult but manageable	Work or school-related stress Difficult

Other (please specify)

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10. Has a healthcare professional ever discussed or identified substance use concerns with you? (Required.)

Yes

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11. If you answered yes to the previous question, in approximately what year did this occur?

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12. Have you experienced any kind of trauma in your life? (Required.)

Yes

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13. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please share a little more detail about your experience.

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14. Over the past year, have you experienced thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life? (Required.)

Yes

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15. If you answered yes to the previous question, what resources or tools help you best cope with these thoughts?

The 988 Crisis lifeline

Emergency services (calling 911 or visiting an emergency room)

Faith-based support (clergy, spiritual leaders)

Mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, psychologists)

Mobile crisis units (community-based rapid response teams)

Online mental health support (chat services or forums)

Psychiatrist (medication management)

Support from family and friends

Peer support (others with similar experiences)

Warmlines/Helplines

Other (please specify)

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16. How comfortable do you feel discussing your substance use with family, friends, or healthcare providers? Please rate on a scale of 1-10 using the slider below, with 1 having the lowest comfort and 10 having the highest comfort. (Required.)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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17. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace substance use resources?

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18. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace's support for those seeking substance use treatment.

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19. If you are a student, has your school tried implementing classes or resources to raise awareness about substance use?

Yes

N/A (not a student)

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20. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, are you satisfied with the resources provided?

Yes

N/A (answered "no" to the previous question; not a student)

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21. If you answered “no” to the previous question, what improvements would you like to see in school-based substance use services? Please check all the boxes that apply.

Substance use prevention initiatives

Targeted interventions for students at risk

Screening/intervention services for students struggling with substance use

Implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) programs

Increased access to on-site counseling and therapy services

School-wide substance use awareness campaigns

Training for school personnel on substance use

Other (please specify)

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22. Evaluate resources in Mercer County that impact substance use recovery. Check each box that describes that specific resource. (Required.)

	Available	Accessible	Affordable	Culturally responsive	Importance	Sufficient choice	Do not know anything about this particular service.
Inpatient treatment programs	Inpatient treatment programs Available	Inpatient treatment programs Accessible	Inpatient treatment programs Affordable	Inpatient treatment programs Culturally responsive	Inpatient treatment programs Importance	Inpatient treatment programs Sufficient choice	Inpatient treatment programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Outpatient treatment programs	Outpatient treatment programs Available	Outpatient treatment programs Accessible	Outpatient treatment programs Affordable	Outpatient treatment programs Culturally responsive	Outpatient treatment programs Importance	Outpatient treatment programs Sufficient choice	Outpatient treatment programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Therapy/counseling services	Therapy/counseling services Available	Therapy/counseling services Accessible	Therapy/counseling services Affordable	Therapy/counseling services Culturally responsive	Therapy/counseling services Importance	Therapy/counseling services Sufficient choice	Therapy/counseling services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Case management services	Case management services Available	Case management services Accessible	Case management services Affordable	Case management services Culturally responsive	Case management services Importance	Case management services Sufficient choice	Case management services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Educational services	Educational services Available	Educational services Accessible	Educational services Affordable	Educational services Culturally responsive	Educational services Importance	Educational services Sufficient choice	Educational services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Employment services	Employment services Available	Employment services Accessible	Employment services Affordable	Employment services Culturally responsive	Employment services Importance	Employment services Sufficient choice	Employment services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Holistic healing techniques	Holistic healing techniques Available	Holistic healing techniques Accessible	Holistic healing techniques Affordable	Holistic healing techniques Culturally responsive	Holistic healing techniques Importance	Holistic healing techniques Sufficient choice	Holistic healing techniques Do not know anything about this particular service.
Housing	Housing Available	Housing Accessible	Housing Affordable	Housing Culturally responsive	Housing Importance	Housing Sufficient choice	Housing Do not know anything about this particular service.
Jail diversion programs	Jail diversion programs Available	Jail diversion programs Accessible	Jail diversion programs Affordable	Jail diversion programs Culturally responsive	Jail diversion programs Importance	Jail diversion programs Sufficient choice	Jail diversion programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Available	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Accessible	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Affordable	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Culturally responsive	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Importance	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Sufficient choice	Substance use and mental health education and awareness programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics)	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Available	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Accessible	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Affordable	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Culturally responsive	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Importance	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Sufficient choice	Mobile substance use services (e.g., mobile clinics) Do not know anything about this particular service.
Opportunities for socialization/recreation	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Available	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Accessible	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Affordable	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Culturally responsive	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Importance	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Sufficient choice	Opportunities for socialization/recreation Do not know anything about this particular service.
Peer support services	Peer support services Available	Peer support services Accessible	Peer support services Affordable	Peer support services Culturally responsive	Peer support services Importance	Peer support services Sufficient choice	Peer support services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Law enforcement/first responder training	Law enforcement/first responder training Available	Law enforcement/first responder training Accessible	Law enforcement/first responder training Affordable	Law enforcement/first responder training Culturally responsive	Law enforcement/first responder training Importance	Law enforcement/first responder training Sufficient choice	Law enforcement/first responder training Do not know anything about this particular service.
Detox or medication mangement programs	Detox or medication mangement programs Available	Detox or medication mangement programs Accessible	Detox or medication mangement programs Affordable	Detox or medication mangement programs Culturally responsive	Detox or medication mangement programs Importance	Detox or medication mangement programs Sufficient choice	Detox or medication mangement programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Prevention and screening services	Prevention and screening services Available	Prevention and screening services Accessible	Prevention and screening services Affordable	Prevention and screening services Culturally responsive	Prevention and screening services Importance	Prevention and screening services Sufficient choice	Prevention and screening services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Psychotherapy services	Psychotherapy services Available	Psychotherapy services Accessible	Psychotherapy services Affordable	Psychotherapy services Culturally responsive	Psychotherapy services Importance	Psychotherapy services Sufficient choice	Psychotherapy services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Services for veterans and active-duty military	Services for veterans and active-duty military Available	Services for veterans and active-duty military Accessible	Services for veterans and active-duty military Affordable	Services for veterans and active-duty military Culturally responsive	Services for veterans and active-duty military Importance	Services for veterans and active-duty military Sufficient choice	Services for veterans and active-duty military Do not know anything about this particular service.
Substance use treatment programs	Substance use treatment programs Available	Substance use treatment programs Accessible	Substance use treatment programs Affordable	Substance use treatment programs Culturally responsive	Substance use treatment programs Importance	Substance use treatment programs Sufficient choice	Substance use treatment programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Substance use education and awareness programs	Substance use education and awareness programs Available	Substance use education and awareness programs Accessible	Substance use education and awareness programs Affordable	Substance use education and awareness programs Culturally responsive	Substance use education and awareness programs Importance	Substance use education and awareness programs Sufficient choice	Substance use education and awareness programs Do not know anything about this particular service.
Telehealth or virtual mental health services	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Available	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Accessible	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Affordable	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Culturally responsive	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Importance	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Sufficient choice	Telehealth or virtual mental health services Do not know anything about this particular service.
Transportation	Transportation Available	Transportation Accessible	Transportation Affordable	Transportation Culturally responsive	Transportation Importance	Transportation Sufficient choice	Transportation Do not know anything about this particular service.
Trauma informed care	Trauma informed care Available	Trauma informed care Accessible	Trauma informed care Affordable	Trauma informed care Culturally responsive	Trauma informed care Importance	Trauma informed care Sufficient choice	Trauma informed care Do not know anything about this particular service.
Youth mental health services	Youth mental health services Available	Youth mental health services Accessible	Youth mental health services Affordable	Youth mental health services Culturally responsive	Youth mental health services Importance	Youth mental health services Sufficient choice	Youth mental health services Do not know anything about this particular service.

Other (please specify)

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23. How would you prefer to receive communication about substance use resources and services? (Required.)

Interactive platforms (surveys, polls, webinars, etc.)

Online (advertising, social media, websites, newsletters, etc.)

Print (newspapers, flyers, brochures, etc.)

Community outreach events (conferences, seminars, campaigns, fairs, etc.)

Traditional media (TV, radio, etc.)

Word of mouth (county leaders and/or peers)

No preference

Other (please specify)

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24. Select the three substance use topics you would like to be prioritized in Mercer County. Your first choice is the one you consider to be most important, followed by your second and third choices. (Required.)

	First choice	Second choice	Third choice
Coping strategies (mindfulness, therapy, medication, exercise, and self-care)	Coping strategies (mindfulness, therapy, medication, exercise, and self-care) First choice	Coping strategies (mindfulness, therapy, medication, exercise, and self-care) Second choice	Coping strategies (mindfulness, therapy, medication, exercise, and self-care) Third choice
Digital tools	Digital tools First choice	Digital tools Second choice	Digital tools Third choice
Innovative holistic treatment options	Innovative holistic treatment options First choice	Innovative holistic treatment options Second choice	Innovative holistic treatment options Third choice
Peer support	Peer support First choice	Peer support Second choice	Peer support Third choice
Policy/advocacy (legislation, funding, system inequities)	Policy/advocacy (legislation, funding, system inequities) First choice	Policy/advocacy (legislation, funding, system inequities) Second choice	Policy/advocacy (legislation, funding, system inequities) Third choice
Resource awareness	Resource awareness First choice	Resource awareness Second choice	Resource awareness Third choice
Substance use education and awareness	Substance use education and awareness First choice	Substance use education and awareness Second choice	Substance use education and awareness Third choice
Systems navigation assistance	Systems navigation assistance First choice	Systems navigation assistance Second choice	Systems navigation assistance Third choice
Access to detox and/or treatment resources	Access to detox and/or treatment resources First choice	Access to detox and/or treatment resources Second choice	Access to detox and/or treatment resources Third choice

Other (please specify)

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25. What specific populations within Mercer County do you believe need more targeted substance use resources? (Required.)

Youth (children and adolescents)

Young adults

Women

Men

LGBTQ+

Seniors

People of color

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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26. Have you experienced stigma related to substance use in Mercer County? (Required.)

Yes

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27. If you answered yes to the previous question, which resource or support is most helpful in strengthening your resilience? (Required.)

Anti-stigma legislation and policies

Employer-sponsored substance use initiatives

Influence of local leaders and celebrities

Peer support

Media coverage that accurately portrays substance use challenges and recovery

Public education campaigns

School-based substance use prevention

Substance use treatment and services

Substance use prevention workshops and community events

Other (please specify)

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28. What would encourage you to participate in substance use awareness or educational programs? Please check the boxes that are applicable. (Required.)

Assurance of confidentiality

Free or low-cost programming

Incentives (certificates, gift cards)

More interactive formats

Less stigma/discrimination

More convenient scheduling (days/evenings/weekends)

More participation options (in-person, online, hybrid)

Personal invitation or referral

Peer Leadership

Programs led by experts or trusted community leaders

Other (please specify)

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29. Rate the effectiveness of local healthcare providers in addressing your substance use needs during routine medical visits. (Required.)

Extremely effective

Very effective

Somewhat effective

Not so effective

Not at all effective

Not Applicable (N/A)

We are asking the following demographic questions to ensure our services reach all members of our community. Answering these questions is completely voluntary.

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30. Please identify who is completing this survey.

Self (someone who uses substances)

Someone in the support network of individual who uses substances

Substance use treatment professional

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31. Age

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 or older

prefer not to say

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32. Gender Identity

Female

Male

Non-binary

Prefer not to say

Prefer to self describe

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33. Race and Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian or Asian American

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Middle Eastern or North African

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

White

Another race

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34. Household Income

less than $50,000

$50,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$150,000 or more

Substance Use Needs Assessment - Mercer County 2026

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* 1. Have you utilized any services in Mercer County to address substance use? (Required.)

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* 2. If you answered yes to the question above, please rate the satisfaction of your experience overall.

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* 3. What substance(s) do you use?

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* 4. If applicable, at what age did you first start using substances?

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* 5. Do you believe there are barriers to accessing substance use care in Mercer County? (Required.)

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* 6. If you answered yes to the previous question, please check the box that best describes these possible barriers.

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* 7. Please rate your substance use on a scale of 1 to 10 using the slider below, with 1 indicating low use of substances and 10 indicating high use. (Required.)

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* 8. Are there aspects of your daily life that make it harder to manage your substance use? (Required.)

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* 9. If you answered yes to the previous question, how would you describe your difficulty managing any of the following?

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* 10. Has a healthcare professional ever discussed or identified substance use concerns with you? (Required.)

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* 11. If you answered yes to the previous question, in approximately what year did this occur?

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* 12. Have you experienced any kind of trauma in your life? (Required.)

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* 13. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please share a little more detail about your experience.

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* 14. Over the past year, have you experienced thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life? (Required.)

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* 15. If you answered yes to the previous question, what resources or tools help you best cope with these thoughts?

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* 16. How comfortable do you feel discussing your substance use with family, friends, or healthcare providers? Please rate on a scale of 1-10 using the slider below, with 1 having the lowest comfort and 10 having the highest comfort. (Required.)

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* 17. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace substance use resources?

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* 18. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace's support for those seeking substance use treatment.

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* 19. If you are a student, has your school tried implementing classes or resources to raise awareness about substance use?

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* 20. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, are you satisfied with the resources provided?

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* 21. If you answered “no” to the previous question, what improvements would you like to see in school-based substance use services? Please check all the boxes that apply.

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* 22. Evaluate resources in Mercer County that impact substance use recovery. Check each box that describes that specific resource. (Required.)

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* 23. How would you prefer to receive communication about substance use resources and services? (Required.)

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* 24. Select the three substance use topics you would like to be prioritized in Mercer County. Your first choice is the one you consider to be most important, followed by your second and third choices. (Required.)

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* 25. What specific populations within Mercer County do you believe need more targeted substance use resources? (Required.)

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* 26. Have you experienced stigma related to substance use in Mercer County? (Required.)

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* 27. If you answered yes to the previous question, which resource or support is most helpful in strengthening your resilience? (Required.)

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* 28. What would encourage you to participate in substance use awareness or educational programs? Please check the boxes that are applicable. (Required.)

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* 29. Rate the effectiveness of local healthcare providers in addressing your substance use needs during routine medical visits. (Required.)

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* 30. Please identify who is completing this survey.

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* 31. Age

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* 32. Gender Identity

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* 33. Race and Ethnicity

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* 34. Household Income

1. Have you utilized any services in Mercer County to address substance use? (Required.)

2. If you answered yes to the question above, please rate the satisfaction of your experience overall.

3. What substance(s) do you use?

4. If applicable, at what age did you first start using substances?

5. Do you believe there are barriers to accessing substance use care in Mercer County? (Required.)

6. If you answered yes to the previous question, please check the box that best describes these possible barriers.

7. Please rate your substance use on a scale of 1 to 10 using the slider below, with 1 indicating low use of substances and 10 indicating high use. (Required.)

8. Are there aspects of your daily life that make it harder to manage your substance use? (Required.)

9. If you answered yes to the previous question, how would you describe your difficulty managing any of the following?

10. Has a healthcare professional ever discussed or identified substance use concerns with you? (Required.)

11. If you answered yes to the previous question, in approximately what year did this occur?

12. Have you experienced any kind of trauma in your life? (Required.)

13. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please share a little more detail about your experience.

14. Over the past year, have you experienced thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life? (Required.)

15. If you answered yes to the previous question, what resources or tools help you best cope with these thoughts?

16. How comfortable do you feel discussing your substance use with family, friends, or healthcare providers? Please rate on a scale of 1-10 using the slider below, with 1 having the lowest comfort and 10 having the highest comfort. (Required.)

17. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace substance use resources?

18. If applicable, how satisfied are you with your workplace's support for those seeking substance use treatment.

19. If you are a student, has your school tried implementing classes or resources to raise awareness about substance use?

20. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, are you satisfied with the resources provided?

21. If you answered “no” to the previous question, what improvements would you like to see in school-based substance use services? Please check all the boxes that apply.

22. Evaluate resources in Mercer County that impact substance use recovery. Check each box that describes that specific resource. (Required.)

23. How would you prefer to receive communication about substance use resources and services? (Required.)

24. Select the three substance use topics you would like to be prioritized in Mercer County. Your first choice is the one you consider to be most important, followed by your second and third choices. (Required.)

25. What specific populations within Mercer County do you believe need more targeted substance use resources? (Required.)

26. Have you experienced stigma related to substance use in Mercer County? (Required.)

27. If you answered yes to the previous question, which resource or support is most helpful in strengthening your resilience? (Required.)

28. What would encourage you to participate in substance use awareness or educational programs? Please check the boxes that are applicable. (Required.)

29. Rate the effectiveness of local healthcare providers in addressing your substance use needs during routine medical visits. (Required.)

30. Please identify who is completing this survey.

31. Age

32. Gender Identity

33. Race and Ethnicity

34. Household Income