Jenkintown SD presentation finds steep rises in alcohol and vaping among upperclassmen; district plans earlier health education and mental-health training

At the Sept. 16 Jenkintown School District business meeting, a district administrator presented results from the biennial Pennsylvania youth (PEACE) survey showing lifetime alcohol use and vaping above state averages, and sharp jumps in use by 10th and 12th graders.

The presenter said lifetime alcohol use measured 16.7% in sixth grade (state 13.7%); 28.3% in eighth grade (state 21.5%); 66.7% in tenth grade (state 32.5%); and 79.5% among seniors (state 46.9%). "Those are numbers that speak to our desire to formalize some more education programs," the administrator said. The district also reported elevated binge-drinking measures among seniors and rising e-cigarette use.

Why it matters: the board heard that these patterns suggest prevention and education beginning earlier than 10th grade. The presenter recommended adding targeted health lessons into sixth- and seventh-grade curricula, expanding counseling and SAP-team training, and piloting youth mental-health first-aid for student cohorts.

Details and district response: the administrator said the district will certify two cohorts of students in mental-health first aid during the second half of the semester so tenth-grade students will be trained as peer-support trainers. "We are going to incorporate that starting the second half of this semester," the presenter said, adding that those students would not be expected to solve peers' problems but to recognize warning signs and seek adult help. The district also plans follow-up training options for staff and SAP teams with low recurring costs because of the district's small cohort sizes.

On mental-health prompts, the presenter said about 35.9% of seniors in one prompt agreed with the statement "sometimes I think life is not worth it," compared with a state rate of about 25.7% in that item. At the same time the district's students report high feelings of safety and access to adults: "I feel safe at my school" responses averaged about 95.4% districtwide versus 78.4% statewide.

Board reaction and next steps: members asked about family engagement and town-hall forums; the administrator said town halls and parent outreach are options and recommended posting the survey data on the district website and sharing it with health and advisory classes. The board did not take formal action at the meeting; the administrator said the health-teacher team is rewriting K–12 health curriculum to consider inserting alcohol, marijuana and vaping lessons earlier.

The presentation also included operational notes on existing prevention efforts: a peer-support "Don't Stall, Just Call" messaging emphasis, expanded Aldersgate counseling services and practical classroom strategies to reduce phone-related distractions. Administrators said they will return with implementation details and estimated costs if a wider rollout of mental-health first aid is recommended.