Milton Youth: Their Strengths and the Risks they Face – community forum to take place April 27

Every three years, the Milton Coalition undertakes a community assessment to understand the trends around youth substance use and mental health challenges in Milton and to evaluate the success of our past strategies.

On Thursday, April 27th at 6:30 p.m. you are invited to attend our community forum, Milton Youth: Their Strengths and the Risks They Face. It will take place in the Nangeroni Conference room at BID Hospital – Milton, 199 Reedsdale Rd. (masks required). Some highlights:

• Both middle and high school students perform better than most of the Commonwealth when measuring risk indicators.
• Current use of alcohol, marijuana and vaping has decreased among high school students between 2019 and 2022.
• Rates of bullying, anxiety, depression, as well as suicide attempts, have increased between 2019 and 2022.
• After many years of very low rates, there was an increase in cigarette use for the first time in 2022. We also saw an increase in cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and methamphetamine use among youth.  These are very small numbers, however, in the last 3 years, they have increased.

We will discuss these results and give you the opportunity to provide feedback as we look to the next year of the Coalition’s work. Prevention means constant vigilance and working together to reduce the rates of youth drug and alcohol use and to promote mental health. All are welcome!