EAST WINDSOR, CT — Reported vaping and marijuana use among East Windsor High School students fell sharply over the past two years, according to the results of a new anonymous student survey.
The findings are scheduled to be presented to the Board of Education during its Wednesday meeting.
About 1.4 percent of students who responded to the 2026 Youth Voices Count Survey reported using nicotine vaping products during the previous month, down from 5.4 percent in 2024. Reported marijuana use also fell from 6.3 percent to 1.4 percent.
Past-month alcohol use dropped from 2.7 percent to zero, while reported binge drinking fell from 3.6 percent to zero. Cigarette use declined from 0.9 percent to zero, and reported misuse of prescription drugs remained at zero.
The results come with an important limitation: 140 of the high school's 257 students completed the latest survey, producing an overall response rate of 54.5 percent.
Participation varied significantly by grade. About 87 percent of freshmen responded, compared with nearly 40 percent of sophomores, 63 percent of juniors and just under 24 percent of seniors.
The anonymous survey was administered in May to students in grades 9-12. It covered substance use, mental health, extracurricular activities and factors that may increase or reduce risks for students.
Students also reported greater awareness of the risks connected to drugs and alcohol.
The percentage who viewed marijuana use as carrying a moderate or great risk rose from 58.2 percent in 2024 to 74.8 percent this year. Perceived risk associated with alcohol increased from 79.8 percent to 87.4 percent, while the figure for vaping rose from 75 percent to 81.1 percent.
Students were also more likely to say their peers considered substance use wrong. Peer disapproval of marijuana use rose from 58.8 percent to 79.4 percent, while disapproval of vaping increased from 64.9 percent to 75.5 percent.
Perceived parental disapproval increased as well, most notably for marijuana. About 95 percent of students said their parents disapproved of cannabis use, up from 83 percent two years ago.
The report also examined students' mental health and outlook for the future.
About 21.2 percent said they "almost always" or "always" felt anxious or nervous during the previous year. Another 56.1 percent said they felt that way some of the time, while 22.7 percent said they never did.
At the same time, 80 percent said they were confident about their future college or employment plans, and 78 percent felt their lives were moving in a positive direction.
The survey found that 40 percent of students get less than one hour of physical activity per day.
The results will be presented by Amplify, which has worked with the East Windsor Local Prevention Council on programs including a high school youth coalition, a prevention speaker series, community Narcan training and a financial literacy night.
The Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Broad Brook Elementary School, 14 Rye St. The full survey presentation is included in the board's meeting packet.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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