Ogden district review of SHARP survey finds declines in youth vaping and marijuana but persistent mental-health and substance-use gaps

Assistant Superintendent Chad Carpenter presented the SHARP (Student Health and Risk Prevention) survey and its implications for Ogden City School District, telling the board that about 1,500 Ogden students took the opt-in, anonymous instrument and that the survey is widely used by schools, health departments and community partners.

Carpenter summarized district-level trends, saying: “Ogden has seen a major drop in its students using marijuana. It fell from 21.6 in 2021 to 13.1 in 2025,” and that vaping also declined from about 28.1% in 2021 to 16.5% in 2025. He cautioned that some items added late in the survey may slightly skew results for particular questions.

The presentation also flagged continuing problems: Carpenter and health partners noted that Ogden’s regular alcohol and vaping rates remain above the state average and that reports of serious depression are a major concern. Carpenter said, “36 percent of our students report feeling sad or hopeless for two weeks in a row,” and added that suicide planning and related measures remain above state averages in some grades.

Public-health partners described how SHARP data drives local prevention. A health department representative said the district uses SHARP findings to target grants and training, citing $20,000 in opioid settlement funds used to train 26 QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) instructors to expand suicide-prevention capacity. The representative added that SHARP’s local cross-tabulation helps identify population-specific needs while preserving confidentiality.

Board members pressed for context on the survey measures. One member asked why 40% expressing concern about suicide does not equate to equivalent suicide counts; a presenter replied that the metric captures concern and exposure—students who say they are ‘‘concerned about suicide’’ may be reporting worry about friends or family, not only personal ideation. The presenter summarized: “That fear of it happening is more impactful than the actual number.”

Carpenter and partners highlighted protective factors the district can bolster: sports and clubs (84% of respondents reported opportunities), peer supports such as Hope Squads, family engagement and targeted mentorship programs funded by local grants. They also described parent-facing materials and short reports designed to translate SHARP findings into concrete actions parents can use at home.

Presenters recommended continued use of SHARP for grant-writing and program design and said the district will continue local collaboration with Weber Morgan Health Department, United Way and other partners to convert data into prevention programs and family supports. Carpenter said he had condensed the full report into a four-page reference guide for the board and offered the full dataset on request.

The board did not take formal action; presenters said the findings would inform upcoming prevention planning and grant applications.