In 2023, general drinking trends among teenagers were 27.5 percentage points lower than they were in 2010.
Amid continued concerns over worrying trends in teen mental health, newly published survey results from the FCPS 2022-2023 Youth Survey show a surprising twist: substance abuse among teenagers is decreasing.
The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Fairfax government, is administered annually to students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade. The responses, which are collected voluntarily and anonymously, are used to understand trends in teen behaviors, experiences, and overall health.
A notable statistic, one that has grasped the attention of FCPS leadership and the school board, shows that 88% of respondents, across all grade levels, reported no alcohol, drug, or substance use in the 30 days prior to completing the survey, showing that substance use is at its lowest level since 2010.
However, county officials, along with staff who work directly with students, have raised skepticism about the results.
“It’s remarkable. It’s almost too remarkable,” FCPS school board member at-large Kyle McDaniel said during a discussion of the survey results at the school board meeting on Oct. 24.
School officials are still figuring out what this data says about how students have adjusted to life after the pandemic.
Mental health, and the behaviors that arise as a result, have educators still grappling with the emotional aftermath and challenges created in the wake of the pandemic.
Even students are critical of the results, “I think all of it is a lie,” junior Emilie Martinez said. “Nobody actually tells the truth in these surveys because we know they aren’t actually anonymous.”
Principal Shawn DeRose on the other hand, believes these results make sense. He suggests that school’s fostering a sense of belonging for their students has been a critical factor in these trends.
“For me, when I think about the kids who use drugs and alcohol, It’s because there’s no sense of connection to something,” he said. “What I care a lot about is [understanding] how we build connections with our kids.”
They may ask themselves, “Do I have a sense of belonging? Do I have a connection to an adult who cares about me?” DeRose said.
Additional data reports support the survey’s positive trends, and indicate that FCPS and community mental health initiatives have been successful in improving mental health outcomes.
Programs like the Free Teletherapy partnership with Hazel, required lessons on social-emotional learning, and increased awareness of the effects of drugs may be helping teens adopt healthier coping strategies, a potential factor in the reductions of risky behaviors and mental health concerns.
Students agree that school climate plays a key role.
“On one hand, I’m pretty surprised, but I also think that it makes sense. I feel like mental health has been emphasized at school recently, and I think a lot of the things that we have been doing have been very helpful,” senior Avril Yelland said.
For DeRose, these efforts go beyond programs—they extend to expectations.
“How we talk to kids matters. We want to expect a great deal of kids, we want to convince them that they can do it. And we want to give them a lot of support doing it,” he said.
Since the pandemic, football games, clubs, Heritage Night, and many more interactive school activities have come back making students be more involved in school and have places to meet new people.
“I think because we interact with more people and are less isolated, our mental health has definitely improved, But it still is not perfect,” senior Sama Dahab said.
The FCPS Youth Survey for the 2024-2025 school year will occur throughout the county from Nov. 12 to Nov. 22.
Officials will continue to analyze the results and trends to evaluate the success of current initiatives and the need for new programs.
Students can opt out of the survey and are not required to answer any question.
“I hope they do not try [harmful activities] in the first place, but we all know better. People are going to try things.”
