Report: Risky behavior on the rise among Canton youth

By Mike Berger

The Canton School Committee is troubled by the findings of a recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) showing a high prevalence — and in some cases a marked increase — in instances of bullying and cyber-bullying, suicide attempts, alcohol use, marijuana use, vaping or e-cigarette use, and dating violence among Canton middle and high school students.

The surveys were conducted in the spring of 2017 and the results were compared to those of the previous YRBS administered in 2015. A total of 788 students at CHS and 652 at GMS completed the most recent survey.

The findings were presented to committee members last Thursday, December 6, by a panel of administrators that included CHS Principal Derek Folan, GMS Principal Sarah Shannon, K-12 Wellness Coordinator Ryan Gordy, and 6-12 Guidance Director Dr. Meredith Chamberland.

Some of the more troubling findings included the following:

* While the percentage of GMS students reported having attempted suicide fell from 7 to 2.3 percent from 2015 to 2017, the number significantly increased at CHS during that same period — from 5 to 12.5 percent. The state and national averages for attempted suicide are 5 and 7 percent, respectively.

* Among GMS respondents, 30.5 percent reported being bullied in the past year and 19.5 percent reported being victims of cyber-bullying. Among CHS students, those figures were 16 and 13.4 percent, respectively. The state and national averages for high school bullying are 14.6 and 19 percent.

* The percentage of CHS students reported being sexual assaulted within the past 12 months increased from 7 to 8.2 percent from 2015 to 2017. The 2017 survey also included a new question about forced sexual intercourse, and 11.7 percent of CHS students reported having been physically forced to have sexual intercourse at some point in their lifetime. Both the state and national averages are 7 percent. The percentage of GMS students who reported having sexual intercourse dropped significantly from 26 to 6.7 percent.

* Twelve percent of GMS students and 17 percent of CHS students reported riding in a car in the past 30 days with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. The state and national averages for this question are 14 and 17 percent, respectively.

* From 2015 to 2017, the percentage of students reporting use of alcohol in their lifetime increased from 9 to 14 percent at GMS and from 57 to 60 percent at CHS. The state and national averages for high school alcohol use are 56 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

* The percentage of students reporting marijuana use also increased at both schools — from 3 to 8 percent at GMS and from 30 to 34.7 percent at CHS. The state average for marijuana use is 38 percent and the national average is 36 percent. Thirty-five percent of CHS student surveyed in 2017 reported having tried electronic vapor products while 12 percent indicated they are currently using the products.

Following the presentation, School Committee Chairman Kristin Mirliani thanked the administrators for providing the updated data as well as information about prevention and education programs that are currently in place. Mirliani said the committee will consider increasing funding in the upcoming budget to better address some of these behavioral concerns. She added that she was pleased to see that no drugs were found in lockers or on school grounds during a random drug sweep conducted recently at CHS. Echoing remarks made by the administrators, Mirliani stressed that the School Department and School Committee can only do so much and that parents have to step up and help outside of school hours …

See this week’s Canton Citizen for more on this topic as well as other highlights from the December 6 School Committee meeting. Click here to order your subscription today.

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