Vaping and depression are on the rise among Franklin County kids and teens, survey says

Jim Hook | Chambersburg Public Opinion

Show Caption Hide Caption Study: Vaping by kids not rising, some skeptical A new U.S. government survey found vaping rates are steady or declining among school kids. But some are cautious about the results. (June 7)

CHAMBERSBURG - E-cigarettes have replaced tobacco cigarettes as the No. 2 substance that Franklin County children experiment with.

Alcohol holds its historic No. 1 spot, according to the 2017 Pennsylvania Youth Survey.

The survey also found:

Smoking and chewing tobacco has declined.

Marijuana use has been steady.

Middle school students are more likely to use inhalants than high school students.

Fewer than 1 percent of high school students have ever used heroin.

More: Facility improvements and security upgrades underway at Franklin County schools

The survey asked students in the fourth, sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, violence and depression.

“Our kids are sad and depressed,” said Christy Unger, director of programming for Healthy Community Partnership. “They are getting sadder and more depressed, and they are sadder and more depressed than the state average.”

Depressed children are at greater peril of engaging in risky behaviors, such as using drugs.

“The survey gives us a glimpse into the daily lives of our children,” Franklin County Commissioner David Keller said.

Several perceptions imperil the health of many local children, according to the survey. Many children don’t understand the dangers of using drugs. Many parents don’t stress that drinking, stealing and cheating are wrong.

Adults can play an active role in reducing risks to children by disposing of medications that they no longer need and by paying attention to what kids are doing in the neighborhood, according to county officials.

If a child's drug and alcohol use can be delayed, the child is much less likely to become addicted, Unger said.

Children are using substances that adults accept, so people are not as worried about the problem as they should be, according to Karen Johnston, executive director of Health Communities.

“Kids are more likely to be driving after smoking weed than driving after drinking alcohol,” Unger said.

More: As vaping increases, its safety still an open question

Little is known about the dangers of vaping, or “smoking” a smokeless e-cigarette. A device with a heating element vaporizes psychoactive ingredients in tobacco or marijuana, and the user inhales the vapor. It is portrayed as a safer alternative to smoking.

Vaping companies are using the same marketing style that tobacco cigarette companies used 50 years ago, according to Johnston. Vaping flavors come in Double Bubble and Tutti Fruiti. The small device can be hidden easily, and some students are smoking in the hallway, bathroom or classroom.

“Just flavoring” is the most widely used vaping substance in the county, according to the survey.

Many local children have strong family ties, but do not feel bonded to their neighborhoods, according to the survey. They don’t feel rewarded for being in positive activities. Many are not committed to attending school.

Nearly half the children in the county are at risk of engaging in risky behaviors.

About 75 percent of eligible students in Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, Tuscarora and Fannett-Metal school district participated in the voluntary survey. Previously fewer than half participated because Chambersburg required parents to sign up their children to take the survey. Children answered the 2017 survey unless their parents chose to opt out.

Nearly 4,000 local students took the 40-minute survey. Fewer than 40 surveys were discarded because of invalid responses.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency support the survey that is given every two years. This year 356 school districts in 63 counties participated.

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The county and school districts use the data to target educational programs about drugs and behaviors.

To see the complete report visit http://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/Pages/PAYS-County-Reports.aspx.

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