OHYES! Student Survey
What are Lorain County youth telling us about alcohol, drugs, and their physical and mental health?
Our youth face numerous challenges today, and many are struggling with social, emotional and behavioral issues that can negatively impact their ability to learn and achieve academic success. According to the 2022-2023 OHYES! Student Survey conducted through Communities That Care, there is a sharp upward trend in the number of Lorain County youth who reported using e-cigarettes or “vaping,” with 14.70% of the students surveyed reporting they smoked some form of electronic cigarette. While the specific risks and impact of “vaping” are still being studied, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.
Lorain County students also reported struggling with depression, anxiety, stress and suicide at a much younger age, and show an upward trend. Like some adults, when teenagers experience emotional problems, they may turn to alcohol or drug use to help them manage difficult or painful feelings.
Some additional findings:
- 10.57% of the students surveyed reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
- 25.19% of the students surveyed reported they had anxiety issues that warranted seeing a mental health professional.
- Of the students surveyed who reported past 30-day (32.16%) consumed an alcoholic beverage and (34.94%) used marijuana. (Only 30.6% reported using marijuana in 2018.)