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Survey finds declines in student substance use but persistent mental-health concerns in Roanoke County
Summary
Presenters told the board that the 2026 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows declines in alcohol, marijuana and vaping among middle and high school students, but reported substantial mental-health indicators — about one-third of students reported prolonged sadness or anxiety and nontrivial rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation. The district plans continued prevention, school‑level reviews and expanded telehealth supports backed by a $300,000 grant.
Roanoke County School Board members on July 9 received the 2026 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results for students in grades 6–12, with presenters highlighting declining substance use trends alongside continued mental-health challenges and new survey questions about fentanyl exposure.
Nancy Hans, executive director of Partnership for Community Wellness, told the board the division has longitudinal data back to 2002 and that many measures used are CDC instruments. She said the district has seen decreases in alcohol, marijuana and vaping across middle- and high-school respondents and that parental disapproval measures have increased.
On a new question about fentanyl, presenters reported that 1.6% of high-school respondents said they had consumed a product containing fentanyl; nearly 13% said they did not know. "I don't know what fentanyl is" was an available response, the presenter noted, and emphasized the need for continued education because students may be unaware of contents in what they obtain.
The survey also flagged mental-health concerns: presenters said approximately one‑third of students reported feeling sad or hopeless or experiencing anxiety for at least two weeks, and stated that 17% of middle‑school students and 21% of high‑school students had seriously considered suicide within the past year. Self‑harm behaviors were reported by about 32% of middle‑school students and 28% of high‑school students. Presenters added that awareness of available resources is high, with about 80% of middle‑school and 89% of high‑school respondents saying they are aware of resources.
District staff discussed protective factors — supportive adults, opportunities for extracurricular involvement and high parent monitoring — and outlined school-level data reviews the counseling staff will conduct this fall to target prevention and intervention at schools showing specific trends. The presenters also described two support programs: ReachOut, a 24/7 mental‑health support line that has handled 124 conversations since September, and "Let's Talk," a telehealth counseling initiative funded by a $300,000 Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services grant that provides up to five telehealth sessions; 23 of 27 schools have referred students to the program since January.
Board members pressed presenters on the role of synthetic substances vs. marijuana, disciplinary patterns tied to availability, and how to update survey language to reflect newer products. Presenters recommended continuing family‑focused education and school prevention programs and maintaining partnerships with Virginia Tech researchers for data analysis.
The board received the survey and asked staff to continue using the findings to shape programming and grant applications.
