Waunakee board hears Dane County youth assessment showing rising vaping, anxiety and treatment gaps

The Waunakee Community School District board heard a high-level briefing on the Dane County Youth Assessment and local school mental-health data on Feb. 10, with presenters saying vaping has increased since 2021 and that many students who report frequent anxiety are not receiving treatment.

The presentation, given to the board’s curriculum committee then summarized at the full board meeting, described the assessment as an anonymous, voluntary survey administered every three years to middle- and high-school students. Presenters told the board about participation levels — roughly 600 middle-school and 570 high-school respondents — and cautioned the sample is not fully representative of total enrollment.

District and coalition presenters said alcohol use remained roughly stable compared with prior cycles, while tobacco and THC-related measures rose, “most notably in vaping,” and that future grant goals will likely target vaping access and education. Tim, Maddie and a high-school senior, Jenna, representing the Community Cares Coalition, framed the coalition’s substance-prevention work and its focus on vaping reduction.

John Wilde…