A new initiative in Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph is aiming to help parents support healthier choices among youth as screen time and certain substance use behaviours continue to rise.
The Choices Rewired program, led by Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) in partnership with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) and Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), offers tools and guidance for families navigating these challenges.
According to Amanda Scales, a Health Promotion Specialist at WDGPH, recent data shows a mix of positive and concerning trends.
“Although many youth still report using substances, we have been seeing some encouraging trends in our local data. For example, alcohol use, cigarette use and vaping have all been decreasing since 2019,” she said.
At the same time, the survey revealed increases in the misuse of cough medicine and prescription pain pills, particularly among younger students in Grades 7 and 8. Recent findings show that one in six high school students reported vaping, with some pods containing as much nicotine as 40 cigarettes, one in six reported using cannabis, and 21 per cent of Grade 7–8 students say they’ve used cough syrup to get high.
Scales explained why the initiative is important.
“The Choices Rewired initiative is really aiming to bring that awareness to parents and guardians of some of the trends we've been seeing around substance use and screen use behaviours," she continued. "We want to offer them strategies and resources to support youth in making informed choices with respect to these behaviours.”
Screen time is also a growing concern. The survey found that 86 per cent of high school students spend more than three hours per day on screens outside of school, and nearly a quarter of youth report being cyberbullied. Scales highlighted some signs parents should watch for:
“Parents can watch for signs of screen overuse. Sometimes it might look like sleep issues or neglecting regular routines like homework, they might have changes in behaviour like irritability or withdrawing from some of the regular daily activities that they may partake in," Scales added. "So just noticing if your child is behaving differently than before is a good time to kind of engage in those conversations and to address it early.”
The program encourages parents to follow a simple three-step strategy: Observe changes in behaviour, engage in judgment-free conversations, and lead by modeling healthy choices and setting boundaries. Scales also emphasized the importance of healthy coping strategies for youth.
“We really want youth to identify coping strategies that work for them as an alternative to going towards substance use or screen use,” she said.
The initiative is part of a broader collaboration between public health and local school boards.
“WDG Public Health’s partnership with Choices Rewired is about empowering families to make small changes that can have a big impact,” said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Associate Medical Officer of Health, WDG Public Health.
Brent McDonald, Associate Director at UGDSB, added, “This campaign reflects the power of collaboration. By working together across education and public health, we’re reaching families where they are—with consistent, supportive messaging that helps them navigate real challenges.”
Brian Capovilla, Executive Superintendent at WCDSB, echoed the sentiment.
“We’re proud to be part of Choices Rewired," Capovilla said. "It’s a campaign rooted in compassion and connection, and it offers practical strategies that parents can use every day to support their children’s wellbeing.”
Through these efforts, Choices Rewired aims to equip parents and guardians with practical guidance to support youth in making informed, healthy choices around screen use, substance use, and overall well-being.
Families are encouraged to visit www.choicesrewired.ca to explore resources and start conversations at home.
