Draper Wellness

A harmful health behavior in Draper among teens and young adults is vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes. Although vaping is often equated with smoking tobacco since many vaping products contain nicotine, School Resource Officers report that THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) vaping has become more prevalent in schools in recent years.

Canyons School District shared the following data from the Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey related to these trends. The SHARP survey is administered to students voluntarily (with parent permission) in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 and asks questions about youth’s experience with risky or harmful behaviors. 52,679 students participated in the survey statewide in 2023. These percentages reflect lifetime usage.

Cigarettes and Vaping Products

6th: 2021 - 3.1%
        2023 - 2.4%↓

8th: 2021 - 6.5%
        2023 - 2.3%↓

10th: 2021 - 7.9%
          2023 - 7.3%↓

12th: 2021 - 9.6%
          2023 - 11.3%↑

Although three out of four grades have decreased use since 2021, Canyons School District stats are above the state average, except in 8th grade, where the State is 3.3% higher.

Marijuana

6th: 2021 - 2.3%
        2023 - 2.1%↓

8th: 2021 - 7.3%
        2023 - 5.3%↓

10th: 2021-13.7%
          2023- 14.5%↑

12th: 2021-27.9%
          2023- 21.8%↓

Again, although three out of four grades have decreased use since 2021, Canyons School District stats are above the state average.

So, what can we do to help? Talk to kids about the health risks. Ask in a non-judgmental, concerned way if they have tried vaping. Also watch for signs that could be related such as new smells (fruity or other scents), e-cigarette supplies like cartridges, or new health issues like coughing or wheezing. If they are vaping, offer support and motivation to quit. The teenage years are the most important time for brain development so we must do what we can to protect teen brains from harmful substances.