LYNNFIELD — The 2021 Lynnfield Youth Risk Behavior Survey was presented Tuesday night to the School Committee, which was surprised to learn that there was an increase in alcohol use over the past three years in high-school students.
The survey found that 31 percent of high-school students reported to have used alcohol in 2021, compared to 17 percent and 23 percent of students in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
“Lynnfield’s numbers are significantly high compared to other districts that were surveyed,” School Committee Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt said. “It’s very concerning.”
The survey, conducted by the public-health consulting group, John Snow Inc. (JSI), found that alcohol was the most accessible substance for students, with 52 percent of 12th graders reporting they use alcohol.
JSI Senior Consultant and Project Director Alec McKinney said the survey found that the alcohol- and substance-use rate increases by grade.
“It is higher,” said McKinney. “Current use of substances by Lynnfield High School students has generally stayed the same over time. However, current alcohol use has increased significantly.”
In addition to substance abuse, Superintendent of Schools Kristen Vogel commented on an increase of mental-health issues in the survey, notably how 31 percent of high-school students and 16 percent of middle-school students reported they are experiencing depression. She said it’s important to listen to students and understand the causes of stress and mental-health issues that occur both in and outside of school.
“I think it’s important that we listen to what the kids are telling us,” she said. “I think it’s important to note that they are dealing with a lot of stress. Our younger children, in particular, are over-scheduled, so as they move up in middle school and the workload becomes more challenging, our student schedules aren’t changing or reflecting what they need.”
Vogel said that during the pandemic, children and adults turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and that the committee needs to pause and think about the mental health of these students.
“I think we need to pause and that the alcohol is reflective,” she said. “Many adults were turning to alcohol as a way to help with the isolation and our children do what the adults are doing.”
The survey reported that middle- and high-school students reported school demands and expectations as the No. 1 factor contributing to stress, with busy schedules as the second most important factor.
McKinney said the COVID-19 pandemic did play a role in regards to students’ mental health. While students are feeling happier than they were per last year’s report, there are still those who are trying to get through the school year and face challenges.
“Over one-third of high-school students and one-fourth of middle-school students reported that they struggled with their mental health most of the time or always during the coronavirus pandemic,” McKinney said. “While the majority of students did not experience any adverse financial or health-related effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 26 percent of high-school students and 22 percent of middle-school students had a family member or close friend who died.”
Several programs are being established throughout this year to help students, including an assembly program to address underage drinking and driving for the high-school students in April 2022 and an annual Signs of Suicide program for the middle-school students.
