Northern Ont. survey aims to learn more about student substance use, well-being

Teens who spend time with their parents or caregivers on the weekend are less likely to drink, vape or use cannabis, according to a study conducted by Planet Youth Nipissing.

More than 700 students across nine local high schools in North Bay and West Nipissing took part in the survey. The goal is to learn more about their overall health and their connection to drinking, vaping and smoking.

More than 700 students across nine local high schools in North Bay and West Nipissing took part in the survey. The goal is to learn more about their overall health and their connection to drinking, vaping and smoking. (File images)

It found that a quarter of high school students in Nipissing surveyed tried alcohol at age 13 or younger and nearly half said they usually get it from a family member.

"By better understanding that, we'll know where we need to intervene to promote their well-being," said Alyssa Bedard, a community development coordinator with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

Breaking down the numbers, 17 per cent of students said they vape daily, 18 per cent were drunk in the last 30 days, and 16 per cent used marijuana in the last month.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) recommends parents talk to their children about substance use.

"You want to approach the conversation with curiosity and interest in your child's experience. So, you want to add a helping mindset. You don't want to go in sort of angry or blaming. Your very first priority is their safety," said CAMH addiction psychiatrist Leslie Buckley.

"It’s not about appearances or how this could look to other people and its stigma. It's nothing about that. It's really just being a parent being interested in their child's safety and then you listen. That's hard to do."

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit building. Plans are for the survey to be repeated every two years. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The survey also found that participating in sports or other organized activities and feeling connected at school leads students to feel less inclined to drink or use drugs.

Yet only 30 per cent of teenagers said there are enough activities for youth in their community.

"This is the first survey that we're doing in our community and the survey is going to be repeated every two years," Bedard said.

"This is going to help us to assess the needs in our community and also to monitor our progress with the project."

The study also found less than a third of teenage girls described their mental health as good, while less than half of boys felt the same way.

Half of teenagers say they’re getting enough physical exercise.

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"A lot of people who are using social media more than three hours a day, and a lot of youth are concerned their physical health isn't where they want it to be," Buckley said.

Planet Youth Nipissing is based on the Icelandic Prevention Model, a "proven approach to reduce alcohol and drug use among youth and improve their wellbeing."

The surveys were conducted during class time using an anonymous online questionnaire. Participation was voluntary, and students were free to answer the survey in whole or in part, skip any question and change their minds about participation at any time.

In the new year, community action teams are going to compile all the data and meet to discuss the findings and come up with an action plan to address it.

The results can be found here.