Revelstoke Secondary substance use survey explores trends

Results of a recent youth drug survey are providing community partners with insight into substance use trends among Revelstoke teens.

The survey, conducted in November 2017 by the City of Revelstoke Social Development Committee, asked youth to answer various questions about substance use and covers everything from alcohol to energy drinks to tobacco use. This is the third time the survey has been conducted since 2009.

A section on vaping was newly added to the survey this year. Greg Kenyon, Revelstoke Secondary School principal and chair of the Revelstoke Youth Advisory Committee, said he’s seen an increasing number of high school youth start vaping within the two years. Kenyon said from his perspective vaping appears to be a gateway to smoking cigarettes rather than being a method to quit smoking for youth. He said prior to the vaping trend, there were less than a dozen youth actively smoking cigarettes at RSS.

“Students who are becoming addicted to vaping are realizing it’s bad and they’re switching to smoking because they feel that’s safe,” said Kenyon.

View the 2017 RSS Youth Drug Survey here:

RSS 2017 Youth Drug Survey by Revelstoke Mountaineer on Scribd

Social development coordinator Jill Zacharias said vaping is often upheld as a better alternative to smoking, but there currently is a lack of evidence regarding the consequences of vaping.

“We need to show kids where to find legitimate information,” said Zacharias.

The impending legalization of cannabis is also raising some concerns about the need to have more in depth conversations, and access to accurate information, at the community level. The 2017 survey shows an increase in the number of youth who have tried cannabis.

Being provided with accurate information around substances and substance use is something Zacharias says is important not only for youth, but for parents as well. Zacharias said there is also a need to recognize that even among youth, substance use issues are often the result of underlying mental health illnesses, or other struggles.

Stoke Youth Liaison Leslie Hogg says she agrees youth need to have access to correct information to make informed choices around substance use. A recent wellness fair at RSS provided youth with an opportunity to ask direct questions and get direct answers around substance use.

“The kids are getting real facts they can use to make informed decisions,” she said.

While the survey shows trends and data when it comes to youth substance use, it’s also a useful tool in helping to creating resources for youth. Kenyon said working collaboratively with community partners to provide supports for youth around substance use is key. Findings of previous youth drug surveys have led to the creation of a number of programs including the Wednesday drop-in medical clinic at RSS and the youth liaison program.

Zacharias will present the findings of the youth drug survey at an upcoming RSS parent advisory committee meeting on Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The meeting is at the RSS library.