District survey: vaping and alcohol trends fall overall, but 10th‑grade binge drinking and 8th‑grade nonprescription opioid use spike

Dr. Casey Black presented the district’s analysis of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), which the district administered to 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th graders. "Weve dropped from 35.9% of our students in 6th through 12th grade drinking alcohol several years ago now to 26.1%," Dr. Black said, and she reported vape use fell from 13.3% two years ago to 8.1% this cycle — below the state average of 11.5%.

But the district highlighted two concerns. First, Dr. Black said "our eighth graders' use of prescription pain relievers without a prescription has increased" and later clarified the item asks about drugs "such as Vicodin, Oxycotton, Percocet or Codeine." Second, binge drinking (defined in the survey as five or more consecutive drinks) increased among 10th graders, a pattern the district said merited renewed emphasis in health curriculum and pre‑emptive outreach. Dr. Black said the district is meeting with the health curriculum coordinator to re‑focus instruction on alcohol and binge drinking.

Other positive trends include decreased gambling and bullying and gains in self‑esteem and lower depression indicators; the district also reported improved perceptions of internet safety and below‑state‑average sleep‑related problems overall, though many 10th graders reported less than seven hours of sleep. Dr. Black said the CARES coordinators and school psychologists will use these findings to tailor interventions and that the district will cover binge drinking more heavily in health classes this year.